This is a gift for...giving

As we journey through Lent, many of us are denying ourselves--everything from chocolate to coffee to not watching TV as much, among other things we normally might enjoy.
Many also perform acts of charity: giving away clothing or food to the poor, jumping in to help those in need wherever we find them.

These interior and exterior expressions of our faith help us discover our capacity to "give of our substance, not only of our abundance," as St John Paul the Great had said.
But, how about forgiveness? How does this fit into our Lenten journey?

I admit I had been struggling to forgive someone for the last several months. Yes, months! The inability to forgive this person has been like a stone weighing on my heart.

I tried to pray for her, and wish for her a good day. I offered up my morning prayers for her, and continued to pray for myself to find this seemingly elusive forgiveness. I reminded myself that I have often been forgiven as well, and that the mercy of our God is more limitless than our human mind can ever grasp, and for this reason alone, I should forgive. I'm sure Our Lord saw into my heart, saw me struggling.

A few weeks ago, someone who also knows this same person shared with me some insight into this woman's life. And it had to do with her own suffering.

Shortly after, I had a dream. In this dream, this person whom I could not forgive looked unwell and was full of sorrow. My reaction while in the dream was sadness for her situation and much concern.

When I awoke, it was like the stone had been lifted. The dream was a real grace, a gift.
God often speaks to us in our dreams. He helps us work out some of our troubles this way. He gives us the most authentic spiritual direction!

I had also heard that when faced with a struggle to forgive someone, picture them as a little child. Picture them in a way when they are their most vulnerable, most in need of protection, mercy and care. This could lead us to remember that often those in need of forgiveness truly suffer at their own hands.

This is a gift "FOR GIVING" to ourselves. God's grace working through us so that we might have peace. The deepest hurts can come to us from within our own families, and they can inflict the most profound wounds. In some cases, it may even be that the person who wronged us never even knows we have forgiven them.

This Lent, if you've also been struggling to get over a past hurt, know you are not alone. Take your hurts, your wounds and your sorrow, and bring them with you as we follow Jesus to Calvary. Bring them with you and lay them at the foot of the cross.

Prayer to Forgive Someone Who Has Hurt Your Feelings

Dear God, please help me to forgive this person for hurting my feelings. Help me to see the greatness in [him] and to love [him] the way that You do. Help me to relinquish the anger that I’m experiencing so that I can walk in the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Help me to heal from this incident and to release any bitterness that I may be harboring. Please give me guidance in this situation, Holy Spirit, so that I can approach it in the way that is most pleasing to You. Help me God to do Your will. Thank You, and in Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen. 


 With love and prayers, 

Simple Soul