I once found a copy of Kahlil Gibran "The Prophet" in a used book store. As if finding this rare treasure wasn't gift enough, I also found a something beautiful inside on the first page of the book.
There was a note at the top dated 12-25-76 that said, "To Fern, Merry Christmas so someone so full of life. Love, Anna" It is always amusing to read old writing inside of books, and as lovely as that was
that wasn't even the best part!
Then there was a passage that had been cut out and taped inside on yellow paper entitled "
Forgiveness." As that time, I was carrying around the weight of bitterness towards someone because of the way they had treated me. It was exactly what I needed to read and it pierced that darkness square in the heart. It read...
Forgiveness
The art of forgiveness brings the forgiver a step towards empowerment and starts the process of releasing the attachment to the person and actions that caused the problem. So forgiveness is really for the forgiver and not the forgiven.
Forgiveness releases the person being forgiven from the forgiver, but not the person being forgiven from their actions. They are still responsible for what they have done. But it is not the responsibility of the person who is doing the forgiving to hold onto the hurt or anger. "What goes around comes around." What this person puts out into life will come bank to them, but it is not the responsibility of the forgiver to see that this happens.
We are all doing the best we can. Try to keep this in mind when forgiving someone...That they did the best they could, no matter how horrible of a thing they have done, they did it because they need healing.
Forgiveness does not mean you open yourself up to being hurt again. You should always keep healthy boundaries. You can forgive someone and still keep them out of your life or at a distance.
Also, work on forgiving yourself for anything you may have done to yourself or others, for you are also doing the best that you can.
