Welcome to another Grateful Heart Monday, where expressing gratitude kicks off my week in writing, which for today is for all those who have forgiving hearts, who are willing to do that hard work of freeing themselves from grudges and resentments and fully letting them go.
Holding onto resentments is probably one of the most toxic things a person can do on their spiritual journey in life. It benefits no one, especially themselves, something I came to know very well during the 12+ years I remained sober from alcohol and drugs but did little to change myself from the former life I lived of alcohol and drug addiction. During all those years, I harbored one grudge after another, looking at so many people, places, and things with total disdain, suffering immensely in the process. When I finally found the gift of the 12 Step recovery program and really worked it to the best of my ability, I learned how much the amends process that comes out of it is a gift not only for those I made amends with, but for myself as well. Forgiving others has brought out many blessings and healing to my heart and soul. It’s why I’m sad when others struggle to do the same with me, because it’s only making this world a darker place for both them and others.
When I recently made a serious attempt to connect with an individual who blocked me on Facebook many years ago, that had developed a resentment with me that I had no idea what it was ever about, they remained uninterested in working through whatever it was. This left me with that sadness I’m speaking of, because I know the freedom that comes through letting all those grudges and resentments go, no matter how big or small they are. Typically I’ve found that the people who struggle letting any of them go become very angry people in life, walking around in this world with an invisible dagger ready to strike at the slightest thing that doesn’t agree with them.
I truly have found such freedom in my life by not being this way. By learning how to have a forgiving heart and working diligently every single day to remain free of resentment, I have healed much of a heart and soul that felt pretty broken for plenty of years. This is exactly why I’m so thankful when others who’ve copped serious resentments with me have become willing to work through them and move beyond them. I have seen the gift it gives them when they’ve done so. There are several people in my life now who have done that very thing with me, who have moved beyond the anger they one held towards me and gotten to the core of what really matters, and that’s loving unconditionally.
So, I’m grateful today for having a forgiving heart and for all those who have the same as well, who don’t like to harbor grudges and resentments, and do the work regularly within themselves to let any of that go whenever it arises. The process of doing this daily not only frees oneself from living in bondage bound with so much anger, but also frees the world a little more from all the hatred that still consumes itself so greatly…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
