Giving Thanks Day 27 ~ Forgiveness

Today I am thankful and truly grateful for forgiveness. Such a powerful gift, to forgive and be forgiven. I have struggled so many times with this, to truly forgive....the forgetting part was what kept me tangled in the emotional cobwebs of the past. I have struggled and continue to struggle at times with this.....with not being able to understand, or compartmentalize things, or feel that I was being understood....to be able to receive it...to truly let it go. Forgiveness is to let go of the hurt, to stop "feeding the beast" so to speak, you take responsibility for your "stuff" and you don't take ownership of what is not. Forgiveness is not something that you do for the other person. Forgiveness is something that you do for you. There are many times the words I'm sorry are spoken, it takes a strong person to say those words, and even a stronger person to forgive. Releasing the past and embracing forgiveness, you become refreshed and renewed. Forgiveness is one word with so much weight, it has the power to transform and change whatever you are going through. It means so much whether you are giving it or receiving it. Sometimes forgiveness can come too late, maybe on a deathbed, or not at all...is the pain you are holding onto worth more than the freedom of forgiveness? I am not saying it is easy, I am just saying it is possible....we all have the power to forgive. But no one comes close to the kind of forgiveness that comes from God......the greatest Forgiver. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all loved and forgave the way He does? The song lyrics "I Loved You at Your Darkest".....so powerful, to be forgiven for the words we say, the things we do, or wrong doings, the unthinkable, when you feel broken, or unloved, or your world is out of control, and you think you are undeserving...I am most thankful for HIS gift, I did not earn it, I did not deserve it, I surrendered all...He loves me not matter what, His forgiveness is a gift that I cherish. I have always loved this poem “People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” ♥ This Season of being Thankful, and in the spirit of Giving, may we also keep Forgiveness in our Hearts ♥