Are you a collector of meaningful quotes? So am I. When I come across a great quote, I underline it. And when I find an exceptional one, I make sure to write it down. There is something about powerful quotes that captivates my imagination.
What I’ve discovered through my quote collection is that the more I do it, the more great quotes I come across. It’s as if my mind becomes tuned in to finding them.
Recently, I heard a quote that really struck a chord with me: “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” Credit goes to C. S. Lewis for this gem. The more I contemplate this quote, the more it resonates with me. Forgiveness always seems easy in theory, until you find yourself in a situation where you actually have something to forgive.
When you’re faced with hurt or wrongdoing, everything changes. Forgiveness becomes much more difficult when you’re the one who has been wronged. The pain affects how you perceive the world and the people in it. What once sounded so simple and idealistic no longer feels that way.
True forgiveness is not an easy choice. It’s not about going with the flow or taking the path of least resistance. While it’s easy for others to preach about forgiveness, actually putting it into practice is a different story. People rarely offer guidance on how to forgive, which contributes to the challenge. It forces you to change how you have been looking at the situation.
However, even though forgiveness is not an easy option, it opens the door to more possibilities. It may be difficult to consider forgiving when you’re consumed by pain and the injustice you’ve experienced. When you are feeling desperate, forgiveness is not something you want to do. I believe it’s better to forgive when the time is right, rather than rushing into forgiveness prematurely. Many situations have been made worse by forgiving too soon.
When you are ready to embark on the journey of forgiveness, I recommend downloading the video titled “Forgiveness: Stop the Pain, Tear down the Walls and Remove the Roadblocks.” This video provides guidance on the ‘how’ of forgiveness. Simply click the link, download it, and start your forgiveness journey.
Forgiveness is not for everyone. It requires effort on your part. It’s not one of those things that can be easily brushed aside or ignored. C. S. Lewis was spot on when he referred to forgiveness as a lovely idea until you’re faced with the need to forgive.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
