Forgivness...Another Step Forward

What’s up everyone? We need to ask ourselves what is honestly holding you back from reaching your potential? Before we do that though, let’s discuss a topic that isn’t easy to talk about. Forgiveness. I know what you are thinking…um, how does forgiveness have anything to do with discovering who I am? Great question! :-) People’s actions and the words they speak can have a profound effect on us, both positively and negatively. Did someone call you fat? Ugly? Did your parents verbally abuse you? Did you husband cheat on you? Or did he leave you all together? Did someone take advantage of you, abuse you, and neglect you? Whatever “your” story is, I have 3 simple words that can change your life. Let. It. Go. “Ok, that sounds great, but it’s easier said than done.” I know it is, and this is going to be hard. Super hard. Emotions are going to flare. You are going to have to face your past head on. You can’t skip this step. You must take it seriously. Why? Because you are not going to be held back anymore! You are going to be free, free to live your life. To have success. To love, to laugh, and to be happy! I want you to remember that the past is over. Your past doesn’t have to affect your future.

Why change? Why forgive? Why let it go? Because you can, because you will be a better person for it. Rise up! Do be a bitter spouse…a bitter leader. Don’t let past words effect your future decisions. Let. It. Go. If you want to achieve the marriage you desire, you will have to forgive. If you want to be the mom or dad you want to be, you will have to learn to forgive. To make better and healthier decisions in life, you will have to learn how to forgive. How man alcoholics, drug addicts, adulteress, gossipers, critical people are walking around wounded. Maybe you are too. Maybe you struggle with the aforementioned items. Maybe yours is a secret. I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter because your struggles no longer define you. LET! IT! GO!

How do you and I let it go? Well first of all, we acknowledge that we have been hurt and the pain is real. We don’t have to pretend it didn’t happen for forgiveness to occur. Because it did happen. And the pain you are feeling is real. So forgiveness is not denying but acknowledging.

Some people can read the ‘let it go’ part of the story and be just fine. But most can’t. They will struggle with forgiveness because the pain of the past is still echoing in their heart mind and soul. The pain you feel haunts you day and night. Let stop right here. Sometimes pain that others have caused, or even pain that we caused ourselves due to poor choices, may never go away. I wish I could make it go away. It may be a journey—a life long journey, with bumps and bruises and heartache. Let’s forgive people anyway.

One of the best definitions of forgiveness that I have ever heard is this. “Forgiveness is no longer holding judgment for the person who has harmed us.” Again it doesn’t mean we deny it—but it means we don’t judge them. We trust God to judge them in His perfect way.

How do we forgive? Well only you can answer what works for you. I can provide some great tips to help you succeed though. One would be to write a letter to the person who hurt you and don’t send it. Just keep it in a safe place. That way you can add more to the letter later on if needed. Journaling is also an effective way. Pouring out your soul can allow the healing process to begin.

You may also have to speak to a counselor, or a friend, or to a minister about what forgiveness looks like for you and your personal journey. Again, only you know what works best!

I know this is a lot of info, and for some of you, it may be hard to read all at once. And that is ok. Take it one day at a time…one step at a time. Forgiveness isn’t easy—but in order for you to be free you’re your past and to start living the life you desire, it is where we have to begin our journey.   ~Kendra~