Happy Reconciliation Day!

 

Today is National Reconciliation Day so I thought this week's heart thought should be on forgiveness.

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You have hurt me......broken me into nothingness....made me cry.... made me want to end it all but yet I FORGIVE YOU. Those three words can seem like the hardest words to say. Believe me I know. Over the course of my lifetime I have been hurt the worst but the people I love the most. I thought I would feel better after they were out of my life, but the truth is that is when bitterness and hate started to rear their ugly heads. They are like two vipers that wrap themselves around your heart reminding you daily of the wrongs that someone has to done to you. After a while it's all you think about and it keeps you from healing....keeps you from moving forward. It becomes your new master and the chains it creates can be suffocating. You might think you are hurting that other person by not letting go, but in reality you are only hurting yourself. I had to learn that over time. After some of the darkest days of my life I felt nothing but bitterness,  hate, and anger for a number of reasons that I won't get into. I came to realize that it wasn't changing anything. It didn't make anything better. It didn't change what had happened. It was only keeping me from being happy and moving on. The day I chose to forgive was the day I finally felt free. It was only then that I truly was able to start healing and get on with my life. I'm not saying it is an easy road, but you will be better for it. Take it one day at a time....one step at a time. There are better days ahead but first you have to choose to FORGIVE.
                                                -Michelle Jetton

I hope you enjoy this video from Matthew West "Forgiveness".