3 Responses to “Forgiveness of others is a gift to yourself.”

1. Dr. Paul Says:
   July 31st, 2008 at 12:00 pm

   Powerful concept Kirk - when people really get this, it frees them from all kinds of baggage. Just think, you really don’t have to wait for others to change in order for you to feel better. I did a post this week that you will find very closely related to this idea:

   http://drpaulsmpower.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/let-the-snake-go/

   Keep up the great work Kirk - I appreciate you!

2. Daniel Burns Says:
   July 31st, 2008 at 9:03 pm

   I debated long about whether to add this as it is lengthy but the ‘ayes’ won out…

   So true… I guess I would add that forgiveness of course isn’t essentially all about us as I think it would be possible to mistakenly extract from this message. We do forgive for the other person’s sake too and we can do so without them even needing to acknowledge that we have forgiven them. We forgive first because it is right, for just as we need to forgive others for their human failings so to are we going to need forgiveness at some point for our own - he who is without fault, throw the first stone.

   On that point about how we forgive others, this world has mangled how forgiveness works so much that I think it is such a confusing area. So many seem to have gone down the road of thinking that forgiveness is a righteous act, that those who need our forgiveness should essentially come crawling in, bowed head and humbly seek forgiveness as we lord it over them for we are ‘in the right’ and they are lucky if we forgive them, all the while delivering a righteous lecture about their poor deed or lack of.

   No, as this T4D says, forgiveness, first and foremost occurs in our hearts and if we are truly strong, should occur hopefully even before (and even if) those who wronged us even seek us out to ask forgiveness. Getting to this place actually puts us in a better position to show someone we have forgiven them if someone does happen to seek us out to make amends as we are not coming from a place of hurt so much as a place of understanding. Look to the story of the prodigal son and see how the father forgives. In his wisdom, he sees a humble repentant heart and he rejoices at the relationship being restored as we should too.

3. kirkweisler Says:
   August 1st, 2008 at 3:55 pm

   Kirk,
   I received your T4D daily at work and look forward to it! Today’s thought was like a personal message to me as I am a friend of Bill W. (I’m in AA). Believe it or not, sometimes even I forget some of the great teachings that come from the program that saved my life and countless others. Forgiveness was difficult for me when I first began this journey just a short 8 years ago. It wasn’t so much as forgiving others I had difficulty with, it was forgiving myself. You see, it can work both ways…”Forgiveness of others is a gift to yourself” however “Forgivenss of myself is a gift to me as well as others!” No matter what way you look at it…it’s a GIFT!!!! So, open your gift and make it a great day! Thanks for your inspiration!
   Thanks - S

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