February 25th: Footsteps Foward & Forgiveness Too!

A year ago today I bought my Pontiac, the first car I've ever owned-it's quite liberating in some ways-quite stressful in others. Somedays I think I liked it better when I didn't own my own car-but the truth is, I love having my own car-being able to get up and go whenver I please-wherever it is I please-the privilage of driving and owning my own car are wonderful! It's made me more responsible, it's made more of an adult-and it's even made me more mature!

Feb. 25th is a very important day of the year for me, as far back as I can remember I always recall this day with great candor-respect and gratitude. Each day is a blessing, each day is a gift-all life is a miracle-but for me, February 25th always seems to hold revelations-footsteps that push me foward in life-in a variety of different ways....

One of those footsteps happened this year as well, today, on February 25th, 2006, I forgave-and gained even more maturity and growth-both emotionally and spiritualy....

Which brings me to the question:

How forgiving are you?

If you're like me, you have a hard time, struggling with carrying out the actual forgiveness. The idea of forgiveness comes from God, and while a lot of people have trouble wrapping their minds around the very concept-they fail to realize that it's a gradual process-not one that happens overnight. Like everything else in life, forgiveness itself usally happens when we least expect; it comes to us in a sudden moment of clarity-and with it brings contentment, freedom and rest.

The idea of forgivness is great, the execution of it is greater.

Forgivness doesn't make it okay, it doesn't excuse the behavior of the person/thing you're forgiving, it doesn't ask us to be stupid and go back for more-forgivenesss isn't as complicated as it may seems-forgiveness simply means letting go; it is the concious decision to take back your life and regain control over yourself and your emotions.

Forgivness allows God to be the judge (it's really not our job to do so) and live our lives fully again.

Forgiveness begs us to be the bigger, better person-it asks us to step up in our faith, trust and courage.

Forgiveness is rather brave and heoric, and it makes you the hero-when you forgive you always come out on top!

I'm writing about forgiveness right now becuase I have forgiven today; I cannot say who or why, but I'll just say that I have-and I am once again liberated. Getting my car a year ago today was quite liberating-but this forgiveness is even more liberating-freeing in a way that I cannot describe.

Forgive whatever you want to, need to or are being called to forgive-just do it-I know it's easier said than done-and it's never a breeze-but after it is done, life itself becomes easier.

Besides, it is rather hard to keep hating-storing resentment and anger, stirring that pot-it's a lot of upkeep-and oftentimes we're not even aware of the upkeep that the anger, resenment and hatred demands. It all takes so much time, energy and effort;

time, energy and effort that can be put to such better, greater use-time and energy that can be used to glorify God-instead of shaming Him-for even when we shame God, He forgives us-so it's only fair that we attempt to forgive eachother....

Forgivness is God in Action, it is what He wants, it is His wish- and why not have His wish be our command for once-instead of the other way around?

The law of cause and effect is inevitable-what goes around comes around-if we continue to harbor anger, resentment and hositlity-we might just make ourselves sick-literally.

That's what happened to me a year ago today-not only did I get my car-but I also got very, very sick-and remained so for almost seven months. Why? Because I had been carrying around serious anger, serious hatred and serious disdain for my life-I was unhappy, yet blissfully unaware of it. I was still happy in certain moments, certain places with certain people-I was still grateful of who and what I had and I was still positive-but I wasn't at my full capacity for love, gratitude and contentment. Forgiveness allowed me to reach those things and I know for a fact that forgiveness improved my health-it wasn't until I made the concious decison to start forgiving, and letting go, that my health greatly improved-and today, I sit here writing this entirely healthy AND happy!

See, when we forgive eachother, or ourselves (often the most difficult form of forgiveness) we send out love, positivity and peace; and based on the law of cause and effect, who wouldn't want those things returned to them? I know that's what I personally want-and what I strive for everday.

Forgiveness is a definitive spiritual practice, it's a pre-cursor to joy and happiness! Regardless of how you define it-I highly reccomend attempting it-because we never know the miracles God has in store for us when we do!

The bottom line is this: Forgivness equals freedom!

I hope you can find it in your own hearts to forgive whatever it is you wish-it is also my hope that this entry has both blessed and inspired you-as much as writing it has done for me...as always,

Many Blessings All Around!

In Light & Love,
-Sarah Liz :)