Love and Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is really hard for me." ~Judy Young

"Forgiveness must be a lifestyle." ~Joyce Meyer

"It's our thinking, not our circumstances, that determines how we feel." ~Richard Carlson

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” ~Robert Muller

"...perhaps the real expectation needs to be nothing. The highest form of love, perhaps, expects nothing, needs nothing, in return." ~Judy Young

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies." ~1st Corinthians 13

I started this blog a few months ago and could not find anything more to say after all the quotes, so it has set in edit mode for weeks. Not surprising. The unfinished blog represents my emotional state over the same block of time. Stuck somewhere between love and forgiveness.

The problem? I didn't know how to make sense of love and forgiveness residing in the same place - for the same person - at the same time. Within my mind, I could not align the two action verbs. If I was having to let go and forgive, was the love ever real.... ever? My heart believes that real love is without end. Perhaps, I clung to unforgiveness to keep the love real... for me. Intellectually, that may not make much sense, but matters of the heart are far, far, far from intellectual.

While I may have clung to the love, I practiced the art of forgiveness over and over and one day, forgiveness felt real. I believe, I have forgiven not just with my intellect, but somewhere deep inside my soul, I let go and allowed forgiveness to reside in peace and harmony beside love... all connected and intertwined.

Combining love and forgiveness in the same mixing bowl is the recipe for life. In both there is a holding on and a letting go which, I have come to believe, is the natural course of energy in my life. There is an ebb and flow in my relationships with others as I travel the road of life together... or apart from others.

Namaste