topic Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~ in Community Chat

~ Easter means forgiveness ~

dooBdoo — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:00:37 GMT

“A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.”
(William Arthur Ward)

After much thought about recent threads and events, I was prompted to talk about forgiveness, resentment, and grudges with one of my brothers-in-law who's a pastor. He said the topic is timely because he feels Easter is a pivotal time to embrace forgiveness. One of the readings he shared is at this link*, here's just a tiny excerpt:

"Every single person in the world has one thing in common: they have been wounded by others. The Christian world has been preaching the need for forgiveness since its beginnings and now, the secular world is understanding the importance of forgiveness as well. Many secular psychologists are telling people that a key to emotional and mental well being is found in forgiveness…”

“Let today be the day you finally release yourself from the imprisonment of past grudges and anger. Simplify your life. Let go of the poisonous past and live the abundantly beautiful present... today.”
(Steve Maraboli)

“I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.”
(William Blake)

“Most people are only doing the best that they know how to do. Blaming and holding grudges only brings more pain.”
(Maggie Cox)

“Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.”
(Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre)

(*https://pcobern.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/easter-means-forgiveness/)

~~~~~~

In this season of forgiveness I want to apologize for any upset or discomfort I've caused, and also to say I hold no hard feelings toward anyone who posts on these forums. I hope whenever there are problems we all can address them as soon as they crop up and work things out, even if we need to agree to disagree. I'm far from perfect, so I know I'll continue to stumble, but I'll keep trying to learn from my mistakes and "when I know better, I'll do better" to paraphrase Maya Angelou.

Good wishes to all for a happy, peaceful Easter season.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

HollyDays — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:01:48 GMT

Hi dooBdoo!

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

dooBdoo — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:02:58 GMT

On 3/27/2015 HollyDays said:
Hi dooBdoo!

Hi, Holly! Hope you're having a superb day!

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

HollyDays — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:04:07 GMT

Thank you, I am and I wish the same for you Awesome post

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

TaxyLady — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:05:30 GMT

Yes, Easter is a very special day. It is when God sacrificed His Son so we can have ever lasting life. We should forgive as God has forgiven us through Jesus.

Nice thread.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

dooBdoo — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:05:31 GMT

On 3/27/2015 HollyDays said:
Thank you, I am and I wish the same for you Awesome post

Thanks. I really do appreciate that.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

dooBdoo — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:07:18 GMT

On 3/27/2015 TaxyLady said:
Yes, Easter is a very special day. It is when God sacrificed His Son so we can have ever lasting life. We should forgive as God has forgiven us through Jesus.

Nice thread.

Thanks, TaxyLady. The discussion at the link goes into more of the scriptural background, but I think it's also an important secular concept.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

dooBdoo — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:19:28 GMT

Hmmm. Apparently someone in Viewpoints found this thread to be objectionable, because it's been moved to "Among Friends."

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

Cakers1 — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:20:23 GMT

On 3/27/2015 dooBdoo said:

“I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.”
(William Blake)

In this season of forgiveness I want to apologize for any upset or discomfort I've caused, and also to say I hold no hard feelings toward anyone who posts on these forums. I hope whenever there are problems we all can address them as soon as they crop up and work things out, even if we need to agree to disagree. I'm far from perfect, so I know I'll continue to stumble, but I'll keep trying to learn from my mistakes and "when I know better, I'll do better" to paraphrase Maya Angelou.

Good wishes to all for a happy, peaceful Easter season.

Hi doobs! Interesting poem by Blake - it's called The Poison Tree and goes on to say that the anger blossoms to the point that the speaker sees his enemy stretched out beneath the tree (dead) and takes pleasure in that. The tree has produced anger fruit which the enemy has metaphorically eaten.

So when we are angry and hurtful to others, we don't always recognize how much that can "kill" another person (I take that as a spiritual demise in self-esteem).

Rumi also said when we are hurting, ask for forgiveness. Interesting.

Have a wonderful spring season and for those who celebrate religious events such as Easter and Passover - be happy.

Have much to do - closed early this morning and looking forward to moving.

eta: The religion aspect may have caused the thread to be moved.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

dooBdoo — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:34:11 GMT

On 3/27/2015 Cakers1 said:
On 3/27/2015 dooBdoo said: 
 “I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.” (William Blake) In this season of forgiveness I want to apologize for any upset or discomfort I've caused, and also to say I hold no hard feelings toward anyone who posts on these forums. I hope whenever there are problems we all can address them as soon as they crop up and work things out, even if we need to agree to disagree. I'm far from perfect, so I know I'll continue to stumble, but I'll keep trying to learn from my mistakes and "when I know better, I'll do better" to paraphrase Maya Angelou. Good wishes to all for a happy, peaceful Easter season.

Hi doobs! Interesting poem by Blake - it's called The Poison Tree and goes on to say that the anger blossoms to the point that the speaker sees his enemy stretched out beneath the tree (dead) and takes pleasure in that. The tree has produced anger fruit which the enemy has metaphorically eaten.

So when we are angry and hurtful to others, we don't always recognize how much that can "kill" another person (I take that as a spiritual demise in self-esteem).

Rumi also said when we are hurting, ask for forgiveness. Interesting.

Have a wonderful spring season and for those who celebrate religious events such as Easter and Passover - be happy.

Have much to do - closed early this morning and looking forward to moving.

eta: The religion aspect may have caused the thread to be moved.

Hi, again, Cakers! Thank you, so much, for sharing this. I wasn't aware of the background of that poem. How appropriate, and such a good lesson. I might steal it for a new thread later.

Thanks for the good wishes, and I hope all goes well with your move. That can be so stressful and trying, so remember to be good to yourself and don't overdo, now y'hear?

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

dooBdoo — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:35:24 GMT

On 3/27/2015 lifeisgood said:
What an inspiring message dooB's....and beautifully written, as are all of your incredibly inspirational posts.

You inspire the best in everyone around you.....

Thanks, LiG! How kind of you to say that. Right back atcha, because I believe you're a positive influence on all those who see your words.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

Preds — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:52:00 GMT

Awesome post dooBs. I tend to like myself and don't want to hold in anger or grudges because that only hurts me. It's not always easy, but it is necessary to "Let It Go!" for my own well being.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

LoriLori — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 18:21:39 GMT

What a beautiful post. I don't post with you often dooBdoo but whenever I see your nic I get a good feeling. You know how that is, seeing a nic and getting an instant feeling? I always get a very good feeling from yours, meaning somewhere along the line we've crossed paths and I've been impressed.

I wish QVC could pin this post to the top of every single forum, it's so wise and well put and wonderful.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

DeLaney — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 18:33:59 GMT

I have no unresolved issues with you or anyone here, thankfully. I pray that those who are harboring any ill will can make peace within and with one another. I wish the entire community a wonderful Easter Season.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

keithsmom65 — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 18:57:50 GMT

I thought this type of thing was against Community Standards ???

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

CarolinaLady — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 18:59:56 GMT

dooBdoo, thank you for this inspiring post. In The Lord's Prayer, we pray "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". We know this, but often we forget that this is what we are supposed to do.

Easter is a celebration of Jesus' rising from the tomb and giving all of us life through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We are forgiven of our sins, and we are told to forgive others.

May each of you experience that glorious feeling of rebirth and forgiveness this Easter.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

OnlyShopsOnline — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 19:52:38 GMT

I really never fully understood the whole forgiveness thing, until I experienced it myself. I recently took the opportunity to forgive someone for some long held grudges. Even though they didn't offer an apology in return, it didn't matter.

It was like a weight was removed from my heart and the feeling was enormous. It felt like my soul had been regenerated. I absolutely never thought it would feel this way.

Forgiveness really is essential for your mental and physical health. When you don't forgive, you allow that person to have too much power over your life.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

goldensrbest — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:18:54 GMT

Very nice, it isn't always easy, but in order for us to receive forgives, we must forgive.

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

Preds — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:43:29 GMT

On 3/27/2015 only shops online said:
I really never fully understood the whole forgiveness thing, until I experienced it myself. I recently took the opportunity to forgive someone for some long held grudges. Even though they didn't offer an apology in return, it didn't matter.

It was like a weight was removed from my heart and the feeling was enormous. It felt like my soul had been regenerated. I absolutely never thought it would feel this way.

Forgiveness really is essential for your mental and physical health. When you don't forgive, you allow that person to have too much power over your life.

Exactly. That is what I meant and you said it beautifully!

Re: ~ Easter means forgiveness ~

AnikaBrodie — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:51:55 GMT

Thank you for sharing your awesome post. Forgiveness is freeing to the giver and receiver.