The Light of Forgiveness
This might help you understand what it is you are doing when you forgive. We are in a dark room, which represents the disorder of unjust treatment toward you. As you stumble around for a match to light a candle, this effort of groping in the dark for a positive solution represents part of the struggle to forgive. As you now light the candle, the room is illumined by both the light and warmth of the candle. When you forgive, you offer warmth and light to the one who created the darkness.
You destroy the darkness in your forgiving.
Now here is what I am guessing you did not know about the light of forgiveness: That light does not just stay in that little room. It goes out from there to others and it even continues to give light across time. For example, if you shed light and warmth on a person who has bad habits, he or she might be changed by your forgiveness and pass it along to others in the future.
Now consider this: If you give this warm candle of forgiveness to your children who give it to their children, then this one little candle’s light can continue across many generations, long after you are no longer here on earth.
I am guessing that you had not thought about forgiveness in quite this way before.
Dr. Bob
Very beautiful image. Thank you. Taking the long view makes me ready to forgive and to forgive again.
I did not see that what I do now will have implications for years and years later. It is time to show my children the importance of forgiveness.
This post is a warning to us all. How we live our life will impact others. The image of the light of forgiveness destroying what is wrong in the world is so important.
If we would all just take this idea to heart, that our actions continue on long after we engage in them, I think the world would be a much better place. I will try to bring a little light to the world today.
This is such a sweet post. I will carry this image in my heart. Thank you.
Today I was upset with someone and took a little time off to cool down. I wandered onto your site and read this post. It pretty much put my anger in perspective and helped me to see that 100 years from now this anger of mine could still be hanging around the street corners of my town and living in my family’s home. Is my being upset now worth this? The answer is all too clear. The long view I have just found out changes my reactions now toward forgiving this person.