The gift of forgiveness

I ONCE heard that grudge is a double-edged sword. It wounds the other person as deep, or as shallow, as it wounds the one owning it. It’s like the concept of boomerang, giving you back what you throw. Also, the idea is like Confucius’ golden rule: “What goes around comes around.”

Conversely, I think grudge’s yin yang counterpart, forgiveness — among other values — works in the same way. It benefits the person being forgiven as much as it does good to the person who is offering it.

In a simple equation: forgiving is a win-win solution whereas grudge makes a trouble, double. This makes me believe that indeed, forgiveness is one of the greatest virtues that humanity should aspire for and adhere to.

Along with appreciation, forgiveness is another best gift we can offer anyone who has hurt us in one way or another, especially this Christmas season. This is regardless whether the person has asked for such or not; though, it would be better if the person has sought it. Still, the reminder there is we must to liberate ourselves from anything that unnecessarily burdens us.

Let’s begin to try to understand people better. Let us look at them in their best versions, remembering the good memories, the happiness the person has brought us. I am certain there is at least one such moment since as we would never get hurt by someone who did not matter to us. I know this is way easier said than done but then there is no harm in trying it out.

Chances are we will learn to love the feeling. We will learn to appreciate life more. We will get the closure we need. And then we will get to finally, truly move on, to move on from things that should be left behind and to move forward with the learnings intact.

Of course, this gift of forgiveness is also about asking for it from people we have done wrong. That’s the other side of the coin, the other step.

Free yourself from grudge. Free yourself from the guilt.  Breathe better.

P.S. Merry Christmas! I have forgiven you. Please, forgive me, too.

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments