Remembering in my own fashion

I used to listen to an album of records, long ago, in which someone (I think it was Lisa Kirk) who sang a song, "I'm always true to you in my fashion"  --I think it was a recording of "Kiss Me Kate".  And I am remembering it as I am dealing with forgiveness and family and trying to make the two have some meaningful connection to me.

Christ dealt with the subject all the time as he stressed, "hate the sin, love the sinner."  "Cling to that which is good, dispatch what is evil."  And while this may not fit perfectly with the subject, in both cases forgiveness involves knowing what to dump and what to keep out of the memory bank.  Anything that brings constant mental upheaval can be construed as being evil.  He also said, "Overcome evil with good."

So how do I deal with reality in my own fashion and remake memories!  By remembering the good and pitching the shit!  Does that make me avoid reality?  Perhaps.   But does it allow me to live with reality in my own fashion?   You bet it does.  For instance, I am dealing with family who are aging and have physical problems and resentments.   For them, upheaval is ever-present along with constant worry.   Joy seems to be more and more elusive and we are a family who have had a barrelful of joy and opportunity.  The Bible says, "Joy cometh in the morning" and we think that that means yesterday morning.

So what should I do first in seeking forgiveness and trying to make everything right in the family?  Can I do anything and if so, can I do it in my fashion?   My answer, at this point, is yes!  I can do something and I can do it in my fashion!  But I can't change all their worlds.  That is their decision!  I can work on me and me alone.   And I can quit worrying about all of them and rescuing them from their prisons.  They have chosen to live in their cells and they hold the key to the door.   I am going to spring myself; they are on their own.  Shakespeare said it succinctly, "To thine own self, be true."  The old bard had a family of his own to contend with, I am betting!