Heard an interesting definition of forgiveness on the most recent episode of "Inside Out Weight Loss" yesterday:
"Forgiveness is letting go of the demand that the past be different than it was."
It sounds crazy to think that we could demand that the past be different than it was, but that is what not forgiving feels like, isn't it? When I'm nursing a real grudge, nothing the target does or says makes me feel any less angry because he or she can't (or actually, childishly I feel they won't) go back and change what he or she did.
Interesting insight -- how do I accept that what happened, happened and still soften my heart to the person who wronged me? (that's an interesting expression too: "wronged" seems to suggest that the person made me wrong.)
Lots to think about...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
One of my favorite quotes is "Forgiveness is the release of all hope for a better past" -- Buddy Wakefield.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a simple concept, but so difficult to do sometimes.