Forgiveness makes you a better person

Are you harboring anger and hatred in your heart that you cannot forgive the person who has hurt you? Here’s a story for you to ponder on as shared by Dho Rimando in "Didache, Daily Bible Reflections For Catholics, January – December 2015 issue.

"At first, I couldn’t believe Bro. Dante’s reaction towards the tragedy and his approach to the perpetrator. Some years back, his nine-year old daughter died when a careless jeepney driver ran over her. Bro. Dante’s wife shared in a prayer meeting how they were hoping while in the hospital that doctors could revive their child. However,  he said calmly to her, “Honey let’s ask the Lord to  give us the grace to forgive.” Instead of filing charges against the driver, they dropped the case and accepted his apology.

When I heard their sharing, I felt that it was impractical to forgive a guilty criminal. But I realized that it is through God’s grace and power of the Holy Spirit that they could forgive a man who caused the death of their only beloved daughter. His almost supernatural act of forgiving was proof of his authentic faith and trust in the Lord.  He believed that this immense pain, which God allowed them to experience has a purpose. God has since then blessed their family with two other children and with Bro. Dante’s job promotion.”

Honestly, to forgive someone who has hurt us is not that too easy. To some it is a tall order. Others may even say that they are going to carry into their grave their pain because of the deep wound etched in their hearts. But I believe that no matter how hurt we are, if we are going to ask God’s grace to forgive, the Holy Spirit will make it easy for us.

There are many reasons on why we have to forgive. The CareerRide.com cites the following insights:

Forgiveness makes you a better person. Forgiveness makes you not just a stronger person but a better person at heart. When you forgive you feel lighter as if a burden has been raised off. Brooding on negative things or vengeance brings negative vibes in your life.

Focus on important things. You cannot focused your mind on anything else if you are carrying the anger and hurt in your heart. If you have important things in your life, it’s better for you to forgive.

Breaking the ice. If you hold on past conflicts, you lose a friend or someone who was once close to you.  To be the first to initiate remaking a connection takes strength. If you are strong and confident you should take the first step for reconciliation.

Hatred does no good. Holding anger and grudges is a poison. It eats in from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who annoyed  us, but it is a fact it is a curved blade that totally hurt us inside.  If you are strong enough, you will be able to realize that it is not worth holding onto anger and hurting yourself with it. Life has so much to offer that you can’t change the past. Your future lies in your hand so forgive. As what Mahatmanda  Gandhi said, “The weak cannot forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”