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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Steve Taylor

Good morning

A few years ago, I met an inspiring woman called Maria (not her real name), whose brother had been killed while in the army, shot by a soldier from his own unit.

Maria’s life was thrown into disarray. She had a breakdown, couldn’t work or sleep, and was prescribed powerful psychiatric drugs. She didn’t leave her house for months.

Her difficulties continued for several years, until she decided to forgive the man who killed her brother. As she told me, “It wasn’t serving any purpose to be so full of hatred and bitterness. All it was doing was causing intense pain inside me…He said it was an accident, and I was sure he felt remorse… So I decided to let go. And it had an immediate effect. I felt lighter and freer. I felt like my life could begin again."

Since then, Maria’s life has turned around. She feels that the experience has deepened and expanded her, and enabled to live a richer and more meaningful life.

Without forgiveness, we punish ourselves through hatred and resentment. Carrying resentment – or a grudge against someone – drains our energy. It creates tension, and a heavy sense of negativity which pervades the whole of our lives. In this way, resentment allows the person who wronged us to continue hurting us. Forgiveness means releasing resentment and allowing ourselves to heal.

Of course, forgiveness isn’t easy. You might feel that the people who have wronged you don’t deserve kindness, that to forgive them is to condone their behaviour, or to let them off the hook. But above all, forgiveness is act of altruism towards ourselves.

So today, if you feel yourself carrying hatred and resentment, try letting go of them. Let forgiveness enrich and enlighten you.

Blessings.

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