The dictionary defines the word forgive as: [to pardon, as to for-give an enemy;to cease to feel resentment for,as to forgive an offense].
I have heard people say this many times: "I will never forgive them for what they did!", as if by saying this they are causing harm to the person who hurt them. The reality is that they are doing the harm to themselves alone. As defined in the dictionary, when you forgive someone you "cease to feel resentment". Resentment, along with anger, hate, jealousy and other negative emotions, will eat you up inside and can cause actual physical ailments and disease.
Often times after we have been emotionally,physically or spiritually hurt, the pain quickly turns to anger and resentment. We go over the episodes of the past in our heads, re-living each painful moment again and again like a never-ending nightmare. Each time we do this the old feelings surface and we once again feel the gut-wrenching pain the person caused us. By doing this we are living in the past instead of the present, and it can be a dangerous thing for everyone involved but the majority of danger falls right into your lap.
Many people feel that forgiveness is a gift. I agree! It is a gift, but not to the one you are forgiving. The gift is to yourself and what a wonderous gift it can be. By forgiving the people who have hurt you in the past you set yourself free from the chains of resentment and other harmful emotions running rampant through your mind, body and spirit. By forgiving you are taking away the control the other person has over you....You are empowering yourself and growing by spiritual leaps and bounds. You will heal deep-rooted pain that perhaps you thought was gone a long time ago but has survived, living under all of the resentment that you have held onto for so long. By forgiving you are one step closer to your journey of self-growth and healing.
Some of you are on a journey of helping Creator to give healing to others who need it. The first step on your journey is to heal yourself. This can be very difficult as well as painful but the upside to the difficulties and pain is the end result, which is very rewarding indeed. It will be rewarding for both you as a healer and for those who you will help to heal.
I have heard of horrific and tragic stories relating to the suffering that people on this earth have gone through and like many of you, I have often asked how Creator could place anyone in such situations. The truth of the matter is... Many people who have lived such suffering and painful lives, or have survived horrific events... go on to become wonderful healers on this earth, doing Creator's work. They start foundations,organizations,become therapists,doctors,authors of self-help and spiritual books,host talk shows... the list goes on... So perhaps this was Creator's plan all along and we should be thankful for many of the sufferings that have taken place and that we have to endure. Without them many people would not be who they are today- stronger, healthier, more forgiving, more helpful to others,more loving...
I once held on to a great amount of anger towards someone who had caused me pain for many years. One day a spiritual healer asked me to surround this person in light and send him love. I looked at the spiritual healer as if she were crazy! How DARE she ask me to do such a thing! How did she even think I would be capable of forgiving someone who had hurt me so bad?! I tried to remain open to what she was telling me, but honestly did not believe I could go through with it. Then she said something to me that grabbed my attention- "By forgiving him and sending him loving thoughts, you will free yourself and he will no longer have such a great hold on you". As I drove home after speaking with her, I thought of this sentence many times and just the idea of the freedom from the pain sounded so joyous and peaceful, yet far away at the same time.
About a week later I quietly sat down and asked Creator to help me do what needed to be done. I asked Creator to surround this man in his light, and then sent loving thoughts to him along with my forgiveness. Most importantly, I forgave myself for the choices I had made during those years, and took responsibility for them as well. The pain that I had been holding for so long in my heart slowly poured out as I wept tears of sadness and joy at the same time. That day I freed myself from the chains of resentment and anger... from the pain I had endured for so many years... and from the control of a man who would no longer control anything about me, or within me... I had healed myself with help from Creator, and from the spiritual healer who with one sentence... changed me, and healed me... I am thankful to her and to my experience, for it has made me who I am today.
The next time you think of the act of forgiveness, try not to only see the other person(s) as the only recipient... for you are the most important recipient involved... and you are well worth it.
Lisa Hoskins is a jewelry designer who owns Animal Spirit Jewelry. She has studied animals her whole life and is now blessed from Spirit to be able to create jewelry based upon the spiritual principles revolving around animal totems and guides, and spiritual principles.
You can find her website at http://www.animalspiritjewelry.com
*You may re-print this article as long as it remains as shown here with full bio and links attached.*
after renovation cleaning Glenview ..It is life, time for breathing deep, sighs and touching... Read More
Being a Christian does not exempt us from having to... Read More
Ephesians 4:4-6 indicates that Christians ought to practice one single... Read More
Enlightenment, which is as varied as each individual's fingerprint, is... Read More
When my dad was nearing the end of his life... Read More
Let me say that marketing can be a corrupting experience.... Read More
Everything in the entire universe, big and small, visible and... Read More
In Corrogue I feel wonderful.As friends know I love singing.... Read More
The story of Cain and Abel stands very close to... Read More
Last week, I sat at my computer and watched the... Read More
God made humans in his image but these days very... Read More
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;I... Read More
I can truly say to this day of August, 2005,... Read More
It's not exactly a news flash that we live in... Read More
We shamans are a strange breed.....often we tend to isolate... Read More
Angels are making their presence felt everywhere. Once I started... Read More
The more that "little me" allows surrender the more is... Read More
We desire to understand the world by giving names to... Read More
Did you ever get a feeling or gain notion of... Read More
I am sure many of you reading this article have... Read More
Within every obstacle there is an equivalent or greater benefit.~Napoleon... Read More
I would like to share my experience, working with the... Read More
1. The name Michael means, "Who is like God". In... Read More
So, none of us arrived with an Owner's Manual, neatly... Read More
I said something last week I haven't said in years.... Read More
no-contract cleaning service Lincolnshire ..I know God will not give me anything I can't... Read More
Human beings originally have three forms of existence. The first... Read More
The good that Paul writes about is a commitment of... Read More
Some people go to physics and spiritual readers for advice... Read More
There are no better people to be around than those... Read More
Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More
Be still, and know that I am God; I will... Read More
One of the most frightening things... Read More
In the movie "Forest Gump" we see Forest succeed in... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
Limiting beliefs, just like positive, empowering thoughts, provide a foundation... Read More
What is the opportunity here? What is the benefit of... Read More
Imagine yourself marooned on a vast deserted island. You have... Read More
Heaven is a place of abundance and earth is a... Read More
Some may ask, is there any truth to have a... Read More
The term spirituality is a confusing term. Usually, when one... Read More
There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve ourselves either outwardly... Read More
The atmosphere surrounding the earth is still a matter of... Read More
You know that the Bible tells us a lot about... Read More
Has America known its finest hour? Are we losing our... Read More
Spirit DancerThe spirit dancer is the card of creative expression.... Read More
God made humans in his image but these days very... Read More
Irish myth has the power to transform your life into... Read More
Your creative gift has power.God was the first and still... Read More
The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds... Read More
Spirituality |