Forgive me

• By Beth-Sarah Wright
• Posted in Uncategorized
• On March 12, 2014

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately…In my own life, yes and I recently picked up the magazine Spirituality & Health with Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the cover discussing “Why we forgive”; and in my new book on depression “10 Things I Absolutely Wish I’d Known about Depression Before it Almost Took My Life”  I intentionally included a chapter on how our depression deeply impact others and the role forgiveness plays in healing; and finally my new novel ” Weeping May Endure for a Night” is all about our stories/secrets and the promise of forgiveness if and when we choose to tell them.

But why the interest?  Glad you asked!

Because it just dawned on me that sometimes we are so blinded by our pain or our own journey to healing and recovery that we don’t see the deep effect on those who love us and want to help us.  We almost expect support and understanding and empathy but it’s not that easy especially when they can’t read our minds, even as much as they may want to.

I must ask for forgiveness.   Forgiveness for not seeing how much you want to help but can’t; forgiveness for expecting what is ultimately unrealistic and maybe even impossible; forgiveness for constantly asking for patience when patience is finite.

Forgiving someone for harm done to you is one thing.  And is crucial in healing and letting go of anger or pain.

Asking for forgiveness for what you have done to others, regardless if you intended it or not is just as integral to healing.

Forgiving and being forgiven transforms people.

“Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”  From 12 steps of Emotions Anonymous.