Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Forgive And Set Yourself Free

We remain emotionally and spiritually clogged when
we hang on to grudges, resentments and other negative
emotions.

Are you holding any resentment toward anyone right now? If
so, your emotional and spiritual system is clogged. You're
devoting energy to a resentment, which is stealing energy
you could be applying to more productive things.
You might probably be saying, "But you don't know what this person
did to me!" That's true, I don't know. What I do know is
that your resentment or grudge is doing YOU no good at all.
Why hang on to something that makes you feel angry and
miserable?

If you think your grudge is too hard to give up,
or perhaps the harm was intentionally inflicted?
Consider this story:

New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald faced a
situation in July of 1986. While on patrol in Central Park,
the then-29-year-old detective stopped some teenagers to
question them. While he was speaking to them, one youngster
(15-years-old) took out a gun and shot Steven McDonald in
the head and neck.

In the hospital, McDonald learned that he would be paralyzed
from the neck down for the rest of his life. He needs a
machine to breathe.At the time of the incident, McDonald
had been married only eight months and his wife was three
months pregnant. He was in the hospital for 18 months.But
after being released from the hospital, McDonald forgave
the young man who shot him.

McDonald said he needed to do that to free himself from
anger and resentment. Simply put, he needed to get unclogged
and to move forward on a mission to change people's hearts.
Steven McDonald speaks in schools about forgiveness and
nonviolent conflict resolution.

The chances are that whatever happened to you is nowhere
near as serious as what happened to Steven McDonald.
If he was able to forgive a person who shot him and
paralyzed him for life, can you forgive those who have
inflicted some type of emotional or physical pain on you?

Remember, you're doing this to unclog yourself, so it
doesn't matter if the other person accepts your forgiveness
or even knows about it. For that matter, the other person
could be dead. Forgive the other person and free yourself.

Give up the bitterness and get on with your life. This is
not always easy and there is no formula that applies to
everyone. Make the important decision to release your
negative emotions.As you reduce physical clutter and forgive
those you resent,you'll gain a host of benefits. You'll feel
more comfortable in your physical surroundings. Your health
will improve. You'll feel less stress. You'll see new
opportunities. Your whole life will open up in ways you
never imagined!

Tags:




15 comments:

T. Suzanne Eller said...

Thanks for stopping by my site. I love what you had to say today. Very true.

Suzanne Eller
author of The Mom I Want to Be - Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future

Chipper said...

Good story!

Keshi said...

u r awesome Chris! This is a great post. Yes forgive n let go..o.w. u'll only be stressing urself out. What's the point in carrying grudges for so long as the risk of ur own health and mental peace? Life is too short to be angry for too long.

Luv ur words girl!

Keshi.

Margie said...

Loved this post!
I have read the book about Steven
McDonald!
He is amazing!
ThANK YOU Christa for sharing this!
We all need to forgive in order to live in peace and love!
Blessings !
-Margie:)

JR's Thumbprints said...

You're absolutely right. It's unhealthy to hold a grudge. I remember a young man in prison for drunk driving. He received monthly letters from the family of the young man he had killed. They forgave him, and in fact, wanted to see him turn his life around. Powerful stuff I tell you.

Plus Ultra said...

Good to stumble on a blog of another Christian, keep at it sister, enjoyed your blog

Anonymous said...

hello christabelle and good morning to you. wish you e very nice day. rolli-germany

Anonymous said...

hi christabelle...you speak/write german. yipiyehhhh.... :-))
and here:
.....wie geht es dir ?....
.....how are you ?

.....danke mir geht es gut....
.....thanks, its very good.

( christabelle... i cant speak english NOT very good :-))

rolli from germany

alane said...

I've experienced first hand how freeing forgiving others can be.
Great post, and what a powerful story.

Christie's Corner said...

Suzanne: thank you for that

Etchen: thank you.

Keshi: ur sooo rite you know.

Margie: Yes I agree with u, Mcdonald is a gr8 guy, a hero if u ask me.

Jr's thumprint: thats really touching, what wonderful pple they are, and thank u for coming around.

Plus ultra: thank you so much, I'm glad ur a Christian too.

Rolli: hey my German vocab is increasing! thanks to u, nice day too.

Belle: hm, finding it hard to 4give urself? thats even worse dear, just keep at it, I know u'll get there. thank u.

Ianeycakes: Its sure a wonderful feeling, and true Mcdonald story is a wonderful one.

Vessel of Mercy said...

Truth is, forgiveness is not a human trait.People find it hard to forgive themselves, much less others.Forgiveness is an ability that is higher than man. The one that is hurt feels that the offending one deserves to be punished. Rightly so, but my understanding of why God requires us to forgive is because He forgave us our own sins against Him.
Everytime I forgive, I give God the glory, because it is a positive proof that He lives in me.
And eh, chris, I am amazed at your writing style. Very impressive!

Christie's Corner said...

Alfred: thats very correct, reminds me of the saying "to err is human but to forgive is divine", it really takes the grace of God and much prayers to find the forgiveness that comes from forgiveness.

Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment too. I appreciate it.

EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima said...

Another good sermon on commonground.

How I wish we can pass this post from pillar to post in the Middle East and other parts of the world where millions prefer revenge to forgiveness.

God bless.