• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Heartspoken

Heartspoken words will never fail you

  • Home
  • Start here
    • About Elizabeth
    • Resources
  • Blog
    • Faith (Connect with God)
    • Connection (Connect with others)
    • Self-Knowledge (Connect with Self)
    • Nature (Connect with the natural world)
    • Note and Letter Writing
    • Books and Reading
    • Writer Resources
  • Need a Ghostwriter or Editor?
    • Writing & Editing Services
    • My Portfolio
    • Testimonials
  • Reading room
    • My Book is Coming!
    • What I’m Reading
    • The Heartspoken Bookshop
  • Contact

The Imperative To Forgive

By Elizabeth Cottrell

Today (Sunday, August 4, 2013) is International Forgiveness Day. While I’m all for shining a spotlight on such a worthy effort, don’t you think every day should be Forgiveness Day? The act of forgiveness is a cornerstone principle of Christianity and other great religions. It certainly was a direct command from Jesus Christ:

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

Among Jesus’s last words from the cross were “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Mahatma Gandhi said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

Studies and anecdotal reports tell us that holding resentment does far more physiological and psychological harm to the person unable to forgive than to the person who has wronged him. Nelson Mandela is credited with saying, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

But make no mistake. Forgiving someone who has wronged you is tough business, especially if the wrong seems irreparable or unrightable.

Always start with deep breathing. Here’s a link to an exercise involving visualization and meditation that may help you forgive someone who has wronged you. It may not seem to make a difference at first, but keep working on it.

You can find others by doing a search for “forgiveness exercise.”

Do you have a practice that helps you let go of resentment and judgment? Please share in the comments below.

Photo credit: Expression: To Err Is Human on Chalkboard via BigStockPhoto

 

Below are some highly regarded books about forgiveness. If you’ve read something on this topic you can recommend, please share in the comments section.

 

               

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa Mikitarian says

    August 6, 2013 at 12:40 pm

    Five minutes of pondering all the ways I’ve been forgiven, and I am unable to withhold it from someone else.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Cottrell says

      August 6, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      Amen to that, Lisa! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting.

      Reply
  2. Karen R Sanderson says

    August 4, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    I don’t score highly on the forgiveness meter. I have trouble forgiving, especially those that have wronged my loved ones. Though I do often look at people who have wronged me with an “Eh, their problem.” And then I hope and pray that they find a better way. I don’t mind the small transgretions, as long as they are followed up by a sincere apology. I apologize sincerely when I realize I have wronged someone else.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Cottrell says

      August 6, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      This is an honest comment, Karen, and I’ll bet lots of people share your feelings about it. I still maintain it’s worth the effort to try to crank that forgiveness meter as high as possible! 🙂 Definitely harder when it’s a loved one who’s been wronged. Thanks so much for commenting.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Get the monthly Compass Points newsletter plus our "Connection Magic" Guide!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Elizabeth Cottrell, aka RiverwoodWriter

Elizabeth H. Cottrell

I am a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and blogger called to encourage readers to strengthen the bonds of faith, family, and friends and to cultivate the joy and impact of personal, handwritten notes and letters. More Info.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Connect with me!

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Looking for something?

What do you want to explore?

Beautiful Notecards from Meriah Kruse Designs

Become a Hope*Writer

I am a Virginia Blogger!

Virginia Bloggers logo

Heartspoken Outreach

Hands holding heart with page title

Write for Heartspoken

Guest posting guidelines title graphic

We love mail!

Heartspoken
P.O. Box 81
Maurertown, VA 22644  USA

Legal Pages

  • Heartspoken’s Privacy Policy
  • Heartspoken’s Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Heartspoken’s Privacy Policy
  • Heartspoken’s Affiliate Disclaimer

© 2022 • RiverwoodWriter, LLC and Heartspoken • P.O. Box 81 • Maurertown, VA 22644 • 540-436-3969