Forgiveness

"Morrie"
 

Forgiveness

"Its not just other people we need to forgive, Mitch," he finally whispered.  We also need to forgive ourselves."

Ourselves?

"Yes for all the things we didn't do.  All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on regrets of what should have happened.  That doesn't help you when you get where I am." (Pg. 166)

Sometimes I think of regret, or what things in life I should have done, but first and foremost I've always be able to forgive.  It may have taken awhile but I've always been able to let go, put my pride aside and start over.  Truth is people aren't perfect, we all make mistakes, we pay for those mistakes in one way or another.  People whom you hold dear to your heart, shouldn't take themselves out of your life.   This quote from the book reminds me of my dad, who I was angry with for leaving us, I stopped talking to him, my pride was hurt too much to forgive him. One day my mom received a phone call, my father passed away after drowning in the Petaluma River.  That was my life lesson, you don't have to forget, but forgive.  I have my own children now and the one thing I try to instill in them is to forgive.  Not only for the other person but for yourself because in a way it sets your soul free.  A quote I always tell to my children is "you never know what will happen, here today, gone tomorrow."   The picture I choose above just represents serenity and peace, when I look at this picture that's the way it makes me feel when I can find forgiveness in my heart.