Meditation on forgiveness
So many times I hear people ask others to forgive them. And we all know the phrase "begging for forgiveness."
What's happening in these cases is that someone has decided that it's the other person's job to do the forgiving. Exactly backwards of the way it should be.
Forgiveness is something that is my job. Something that I do. I do it because it cleans up my side of the street. It is something I have, and that I can give.
If I believe that someone else is supposed to forgive me, or if I beg someone else for their forgiveness, then I have turned everything over to that other person. Things will not be right until the other person does something. If the other person does not forgive, then the problem between us goes on and on.
My job is to take control of what I have control over. That would be me, not someone else. I have no control over others. I have control over myself alone. So if there is going to be any forgiving going on, then I am the one who has to do it. If the other person wants to forgive also, that's fine, but it's not my job to bring that about.
And I must be generous in my forgiving, without waiting for anyone else to ask.
Prayer: Grant me the strength to forgive others, freely and joyfully.
Affirmation: I am a forgiving person.
Ross Runkel, Post Office Box 1031, Salem, Oregon
97308-1031.
Phone 503-399-8028. Fax 503-566-8844. email Ross@LawMemo.Com
