Weekly Newsletter: The Undeserving

    Forgiveness comes more naturally for those we care about, but to grant forgiveness to strangers, tormentors, and to those who consistently seem to be a thorn in our side is practically impossible for some. How do we forgive the “undeserving”? We always keep in mind that forgiveness is for us — not them. To harbor hatred, judgments, ill will, and anything else that exemplifies our refusal to forgive, eats away at our peace, health, and spirituality.
    Whenever I am tempted to withhold forgiveness, I am reminded that my life has not always been perfect. It still isn’t perfect. Far from it. If I hope that others will forgive my failures (sins if you prefer), and if I hope to forgive myself, then I must be willing to offer forgiveness to one and all. I may not have committed the major “sins” that society deems worthy of imprisonment or death, but I know that the possibility of doing so lies within me — as it lies within each of us.
     To forgive is to set ourselves free. When we refuse to forgive, we imprison a part of our divine nature. The key to unlock the prison door is always present, and we may use the key of forgiveness at any time and release ourselves from our self-inflicted cell.