It Seems so Simple

For such a short simple word, you would think its meaning would be an easy action to maintain or handle, right?

Well “To Forgive” is such a very powerful statement and verb of action.

Defined by the dictionary, forgive means:

for·give

fərˈɡiv/

verb

verb: forgive; 3rd person present: forgives; past tense: forgave; gerund or present participle: forgiving; past participle: forgiven

1. stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

"I don't think I'll ever forgive David for the way he treated her"

synonyms:		pardon, excuse, exonerate, absolve; More make allowances for, feel no resentment toward, feel no malice toward, harbor no grudge against, bury the hatchet with; let bygones be bygones; informallet off (the hook); formalexculpate "she would not forgive him"
antonyms:	blame, resent

o    stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for (an offense, flaw, or mistake).
"they are not going to pat my head and say all is forgiven"

o    cancel (a debt).
"he proposed that their debts should be forgiven"

The exact words are to “stop feeling angry, resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw or mistake”. Now I don’t know about you, but that is a pretty big pill to swallow; especially when someone has hurt you, hurt someone you love, or someone you love has been taken away too soon. 

But they tell us to forgive. So that means we have to forgive that drunk driver that killed our entire family. That means we have to forgive the man that used to beat his wife into submission every night, is that what they are saying.

I never understood, when I would watch shows such as Oprah, that a mother was able to forgive that drunk driver. But now, after looking up the word, what it means is you, yourself, must relinquish any anger or ill-feelings, or harbored feelings you have had. In a way, to forgive, is almost working on your side. Now this doesn’t mean you have to excuse them for their actions, or condone what they have done to you in your past or their past. What it is doing, is allowing you to let that burdon be lifted off of your shoulders. It is allowing you to breathe freely again. It is lifting the burdon of anger off of you. Off of your soul, your heart, your being in general.

This recently happened to me personally. I allowed my self to forgive someone from my past. It has been wonderful. I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders, my heart and my soul. It doesn’t mean I agree with what happened in the past, or even condone it. But it is with a much lighter, and easier heart that I have allowed myself to move on and not hang on to the pain.

It has been a peaceful journey for me. It has allowed me to open my heart and my soul and not expel hatred or anger. 

Just remember, if you have been hurt physically or emotionally, or a member of your family has. Try to find your inner peace. Try to forgive. Again, it doesn’t mean you have to approve or condone their actions that have hurt you or your loved ones, but forgiveness will allow you to move on and accept life as it is in the present state, not the past.

You Really are Enough

When we hold that beautiful baby in our arms, we want their lives to be perfect. We want them to be brilliant, successful, happy, and admittedly so, we all have that glimmer of narcissism, that maybe our baby will be the “one”. The one that will change the world.

Whether it’s through medicine, politics, science, discoveries, the written word; whatever the case may be. We hope that our little bundle of joy, will have an earth-shattering effect on the destiny of our world.

While some of those fat-faced, little cherubs will indeed go on to accomplish great things, their names may go down in the history books; there are those that will just live a normal, productive, happy and healthy life. And most of the time that is all the world really needs.

Because that little bundle will touch, affect, influence, aid, or carry another person through their life, or many people through their lives, and not even having realized what they are doing to benefit those around them.

As a grown woman, who hasn’t changed the world, moved mountains, or done anything of greatness in the world; it is always so nice to hear that you have effected someone’s life in a positive manner. 

This past weekend, I attended a wedding of a friend. After the ceremony the bride’s daughter, and the daughter’s cousin; both who I have known their entire lives came up to me and said the sweetest words, I think I have ever had said to me.

They looked at me and said, “Sam, we aspire to be you one day.” Now seriously, other than hearing the words: “Momma” or “I love you” for the first time out of your baby’s mouth; life doesn’t get much sweeter than that. So, with great confusion, honor, and a little giggling on my part, I asked them why in the world would they aspire to be me?

One said, “Because you are just you. There is nothing fake about you, you are nice, you are funny, and not much gets to you.” The other one stated, “You are always happy to, you always have a smile on your face…You’re just Sam!” And without hesitation, I immediately thanked them, and told them, that was about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I also told them, that life is pretty great. And that I have definitely hit some rough patches, but they were never going to bring me down. And I wanted these two girls to remember that, always.

Now these aren’t young kids; one is 18 and the other is 20. So, they have had the pleasure to meet several people in their lifetimes. But not only for them to approach an adult, but to also have the courage to tell me they had been watching me, and noticing me, and talking about me earlier in the day…was truly amazing to me. Because most young adults don’t have the patience to look around, or outside of their bubble to really pay attention to what is going on around them.

So, you see, some of us are destined for greatness; but then, there are those of us, that accomplish greatness by touching someone’s heart, their soul, or their outlook on life. So, to those two young ladies, I thank you. I thank you for reminding me, that I don’t have to find cures for diseases, I don’t have to launch rockets, I don’t have to figure out World Peace, to be a good person. Sometimes, just being me is enough, and without knowing it, we all will affect those around us in one way or another.

So being you, really is enough.