I AM EMBRACING FORGIVENESS

“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9

I am capable and worthy of forgiveness of others and myself.

Forgiveness is a topic that I know you are more than familiar with. I know I am. We look at and deal with forgiveness everywhere in our lives, all of our lives. As young children we’re taught to apologize and forgive. We say “sorry” when we do something that hurts someone else and when someone says sorry we say “that’s ok” and forgive them. But no matter how much we try to teach that, as we grow and become more accountable for our feelings… that becomes a little harder. Because now we take into consideration the why’s. Why did the other person do what they did? Why do I need to forgive them? Why do I need to apologize for something I 100% meant? Why do I even want them in my life? This inner (and sometimes outer) struggle with the decision (because it is 100% a choice) can be brutal on the mental, especially when there are other mental health things to consider.

So let’s talk about grudges. You know it. When we hold on to past hurt to the point of rejecting forgiveness. Sometimes we call it setting a boundary but boundaries are designed to keep hurts out not trap them within. And I want you to ask yourself why you can’t forgive that person? What have they done to you that was so bad you can’t let go of anger or hurt enough to move forward for yourself? Because let’s remember, that forgiveness of a person is not for that person. We can forgive those who don’t ask for it and without ever telling them we did. So what are you holding on for? Are you failing to forgive them… or yourself? Think about it. Are you really so angry with and hurt by them… or are you mad at yourself for allowing it to happen? Do you lack a level of trust in yourself to make the right decision when it comes to those people or things that it’s easier to push them away than it is to face that the person you’re really upset with is you?

So now what? Now that I’ve called you out and made you look in the mirror and realize the only person you’re hurting is yourself… where do we go from here? You already know, I got you! Let’s affirm!

Affirmation 1: I am embracing forgiveness. Forgiveness is for YOU. No matter who you are forgiving the beneficiary is always you. So embrace the self-love that forgiveness is and know that you are WORTHY of the freedom that forgiving yourself and others can bring.

Affirmation 2: Grow into your perfection. You are not perfect. Nobody is. But the image that God made you in and has destined for you IS. You’re just growing into that daily. So keep growing into your perfection and know that each hiccup is just a growing pain.

Affirmation 3: Grudges only lock pain in so let’s not. Let’s face it. A grudge is a defense mechanism designed to keep hurt away. But like I said before, it doesn’t actually lock pain out it locks it in. You are trapping yourself with your pain and therefore will never be able to escape it. Not cool! Show yourself some grace and let that grudge go.

Friends, I love y’all. And I love that you let me learn right along with you because this one was self-discovery for me as well because I can hold a grudge now. I can keep a person so locked away from me you’d think they committed the ultimate sin against me. But I, too, learned that it was more about the guilt I felt about things happening to me that I felt I allowed and once I forgave myself and allowed myself to be human, the peace that passes over me and the way I’m able to move through life without that pain I was self-inflicting… you can have it too! I believe in you. Keep conquering daily!