Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. We don’t know everything and sometimes we choose the wrong path for many different reasons. When we choose badly and hurt those around us, we may ask for forgiveness in an effort to move forward more easily. It’s good to forgive others when they’ve hurt us. Carrying around anger from an issue in the past can hold us back and rob our freedom. If we hold onto anger and disappointment it may keep us from happiness, and the weight of the load may make us miserable. Forgiving someone for something egregious doesn’t justify or excuse their behavior, but allows us to let go of the pain and be free of the anger. It’s good to have mercy on others when they’ve erred, and shake away anything holding us in place. When we’ve been hurt or offended, when someone has done something to diminish us or harm us, we may forgive them knowing the act of forgiving them is for us, to release us from the pain. Mercy is an act of compassion and kindness, and we can have mercy even when it’s difficult. Everyone is responsible for every decision they make and mercy will never remove accountability or justice. Even if we’ve been forgiven, we must answer for every choice. Nobody is perfect and there will be times when we all make mistakes. We can only control our own decisions and if we’ve been hurt, we can forgive and move on. Life is long and we have unlimited experiences as we navigate forward. We need not carry any pain along with us. We can have mercy, let go, and trust that justice will prevail.
Revenge seems like a good idea when we’ve been hurt. It seems fair to even to the score and inflict on someone else what they’ve done to us – or worse. We all want life to be fair, and may try hard to make sure we’re always fair and appropriate with those around us. If we’ve been treated badly, we may be tempted to strike back in an effort to make things right. But lowering our standards to those who have done something wrong will only prove we can do what they’ve done. It will never elevate us, or make us better.
Allowing those who choose badly to be accountable for what they’ve done instead of trying to punish them is appropriate. When we’ve been hurt we can determine to continue to be the best we can be and live up to the personal standard we’ve set. Our lives belong to us and what we do is our responsibility. Instead of evening the score when we’ve been hurt, we can choose instead to overcome it. There is nothing more important or powerful than our personal integrity. Choosing well, despite the choices of others will bring us satisfaction and happiness.
Today if someone has hurt you or done something untoward or hateful to you, remember who you are and honor your personal standards. You are capable of greatness and nothing is more important than your personal integrity. Rise above contention and choose nobility. Nothing can diminish you or hold you in place. Move forward with confidence. You are amazing and incredible, and there is great success ahead.
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