Unforgiven

A story about Hazel Bryan and Elizabeth Eckford popped up on my timeline as I was writing about forgiveness. It was an older article, written in 2011, about the unlikely friendship of Eckford, one of the Nine who tried to integrate Little Rock Central High School in 1957, and Bryan, immortalized in all her racist rage, trying to prevent that from happening.

Their friendship blossomed after Bryan apologized, grew into a partnership over their shared experience, and then shriveled under the weight of suspicion from their communities and each other. Bryan’s conversion to and activities as an activist were not enough to gain forgiveness and acceptance among those she had hurt.

And I wondered…are we ever permitted to transition from the mistakes we’ve made…transform in the eyes of those who judge us harshly? Are there some grievances too egregious to be forgiven?

“Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.” Colossians 3:13, MSG

Inhale Friendship, Exhale Unforgiveness…
Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Unforgiveness…
Inhale Freedom, Exhale Unforgiveness…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness

Reconciliation

We often tie forgiveness and reconciliation together. But forgiveness and reconciliation are separate processes. Forgiveness is something each of us can do on our own. Reconciliation requires the participation of another person or entity.

True reconciliation cannot happen without forgiveness. But we can forgive, yet consciously determine reconciliation is not possible…

“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” Proverbs 4:23, MSG

Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Forgetting…
Inhale Reconciliation, Exhale Resentment…
Inhale Boundaries, Exhale Enabling…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness

Divine Forgiveness

“Forgive and forget.”

You’ve heard this adage, which, I believe, really speaks to a higher-level consciousness that many of us find difficult to achieve. Biblical passages like those in Hebrews and Isaiah assure us that God “blots” our sins, or “ wipes the slate clean” of our sins, or doesn’t “keep a list” of our sins. For most of us humans, the idea that we must forget an offense to truly forgive the offender sometimes stops the whole process.

But forgiving does not mean having to forget the offense or deny it happened or to ignore the real feelings that it generated. Forgiving may mean that we simply have to think differently about what happened, change the feelings about what we think and modify how we act.

Forgiving may require that we overlook what has happened.

Inhale Letting Go, Exhale Holding On…
Inhale Overlooking, Exhale Condoning…
Inhale Forgiving, Exhale Excusing…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness

Forgiveness

When I forgive, I free others and myself from past behavior, mistakes and regret. I’ve found that forgiving benefits all aspects of my life… from my relationships, and my health to my ability to focus energy on what I’m here to do.

Forgiveness removes hurt and resentment and allows me to see clearly to a much brighter future.

“When you forgive you don’t change the past, you change the future.” Rev. Mark Anthony Lord

Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Victimization…
Inhale Freedom, Exhale Blame…
Inhale Future, Exhale Past…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness