The Power of Forgiveness

I wish I was a great teacher or communicator. I find no words to describe something I started to grasp late last year that I have become closer and closer to fully embracing.The absolute power and relief from truly forgiving...it brings such peace. I am sure those of you who are spiritual will understand.

It seems in our daily lives there is so much anger and resentment. I see it everywhere...in close families, friends, colleagues, neighbors, nations. It just makes me so sad to see people I care about all around me suffering in pain from their anger. I have been there myself so I absolutely know what it feels like.

We should not accept being taken advantage of BUT I do believe we should try and communicate from our hearts and with calm and acceptance.

I guess next I will be expecting World Peace. ;)

I found some quotes I thought I would share. I didn't include anything from Jesus....I think we all know where he stands on the issue.

Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the

injury that provokes it. 

--Seneca

"I can forgive, but I cannot forget" is only another way of saying,

"I will not forgive." Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note-

torn in two and burned up so that it never can be shown against one.

---Henry Ward Beecher

Many people are afraid to forgive because they feel they must remember

the wrong or they will not learn from it. The opposite is true.

Through forgiveness, the wrong is released from its emotional

stranglehold on us so that we can learn from it. Through the power and

intelligence of the heart, the release of forgiveness brings expanded

intelligence to work with the situation more effectively.

---The Intelligent Heart, David McArthur & Bruce McArthur

Since nothing we intend is ever faultless, and nothing we attempt ever

without error, and nothing we achieve without some measure of

fallibility we call humanness, we are saved by forgiveness.

---David Augsnurger

Anybody can become angry - that is easy; but to be angry

with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time,

and for the right purpose, and in the right way -

that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.

---Aristotle

Sincere forgiveness isn't colored with expectations that the other

person apologize or change. Don't worry whether or not they finally

understand you. Love them and release them. Life feeds back truth

to people in its own way and time.

---Sara Paddison, The Hidden Power of the Heart

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of

throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

--Buddha

To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.

--William H. Walton

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU.

---Unknown

I imagine that one of the reasons people cling to their hates so

stubbornly is because they sense, once the hate is gone,

they will be forced to deal with pain.

---James Baldwin

Revenge is sweet, but forgiveness is sweeter.

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech

you will ever regret.

Forgiving is a choice you make--a gift you give to somebody even if

they don't deserve it. It costs nothing, but it makes you feel rich

for giving it away.

---Lurlene McDaniel