Forgiveness, is that a possibility?

Yesterday I was interviewed by an assistant minister here for a seminary paper he was doing.  It had to do with getting on with one's life after a tragedy brought on by others.   He asked me some questions --all of which I answered--though I sensed my own reticence in reliving the pain.   Then he asked me this --how do you get to a point where you can start forgiving?   The truth is, for me, is that you have two choices:  you can turn into a bitter shrew or you can laugh about some of the stupid things that you have done along this road and forgive yourself, first, and frankly admit your own mistakes of judgement.

And then you can start on the road to forgiving others  who have hurt you!   This forgiveness road can take many paths.   And that choice is yours.   I chose to forgive major players a little at a time until it got easier.  I chose to let the anger go to some people  immediately and felt sorry for them until my sorrow at watching them live their lives in anger replaced my own anger at them.

I continue to applaud groups who do the right thing for the right reason. I saw a clipping this morning about church  people in Blytheville bringing coffee and sandwiches to truckers who were sitting in their vehicles because of the snow.  I'm sure plenty of people have hurt each one of them as individuals but, at this moment, they thought of something other than getting back at someone.  These people from churches in Blytheville trudged the road to bring hope and food to truckers and travelers who were stranded.  They were all so cold  that they didn't have the strength to dig up old wounds!  Example for all of us.

Forgiveness helps the person, most, who does it!   I know that for a fact!