If whip-marks and sadness are present or not, are seen or not, we have the power to forgive. The challenge is to engage that power to forgive. Hurt can be very difficult to let go of and forgiving can be very difficult to do, but it can be done, even for a slow learner like me. The owner of a business in which I worked many years ago cheated me out of a large amount of money. I held onto the hurt and anger regarding that for a long time. I can still stir up ill feelings about what he did but I have forgiven him. What helps me forgive is taking responsibility for my cooperation in letting it happen, and my carelessness in not taking care of my self. Taking responsibility for my part in my being hurt and letting go of unfair or inappropriate blaming and feelings of victimization result in more than a few grains of happiness for me, help balance at least some of the dark I perceive, and help me grow a little wiser.
On Jun 5, 2025 David Doane wrote :