The Power of Forgiveness

I believe in forgiveness.  And I know that while it is sometimes a very difficult, or close to impossible, thing to do, forgiving someone really eases a burden off of your heart.  I think that there are a lot of people in my life that I need to forgive.  Not forget, but forgive, for my own sanity and sense of well being.

That said, I was recently forgiven by someone.  And I can't believe how good it feels.  I was completely wrong in my actions and someone was hurt by what I did.  For the last few months, that person has been weighing heavily on my mind and heart.  How could I, a person who prides herself on being honest and caring and good (somewhat), do what I did and not reach out and apologize?  Most people think that there are three words in the English language that are the most difficult to say - I love you - but it's really only two - I'm sorry.

Because of my last post, I have had the opportunity to apologize.  Sincerely and heartfelt.  And the beauty of it is that I was forgiven.  It's a gift.  A wonderful, beautiful gift to be able to be forgiven.  I don't know when I will be able to forgive myself for my actions in harming this person, but surely this is the first step in the process isn't it?

And if someone else, whom I have never even met, is able to forgive me for things that I have done that led to their pain, shouldn't I be able to look into my own heart and do the same for those who have hurt me?  I really don't know the answer to that yet.  All I know is that I am going to try.  Try and be the best person that I can be and not let the negativity and ignorance of other people pull me down.  Try and be as open and loving and honest as I can without letting people use me and walk all over me.  Try and look at the beauty in the world and aspire to be as beautiful as I can be as a human being.  And most definitely try and be the kind of person my children can look up to and be proud to call mom.

And my heart feels good these days.  I feel like this huge weight has been lifted off of me.  And it's such a special feeling.

Thank you to that special person who found it in their heart to say - I forgive you.  You will never know how much that means to me.