Before Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, He experienced many terrible things.
He was insulted, flogged, and beaten by soldiers, and made to wear a crown of thorns.
He was humiliated, and made to carry His own cross to the place of execution.
If that was not enough, Jesus was executed publically, as the crowd waited and watched His entire struggle.
Amidst this, how did He respond?
Despite the torment and humiliation, Jesus harboured no hatred for His tormentors. Instead, He offered them forgiveness.
His first words from the cross were – “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Forgiveness
We are no God, and that’s why it’s easy for us to give in to anger, resentment and negative emotions towards others.
None of us are exceptions to the emotional outburst in the face of troubles caused by someone else.
Someone does something bad to us, and in our hearts we cannot forgive them.
I had such an experience recently when I was so disturbed and angry on someone that any reconciliation seemed impossible for a few months.
It was during that time I came across this saying from Nelson Mandela – “You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”
The very fact that Mandela himself exemplified the virtues of mercy – by encouraging forgiveness and reconciliation against the whites even after spending 27 long years in the prison – changed my outlook towards life.
That day I decided to learn the art of forgiveness particularly for my betterment (even though my conscious was not ready).
It may sound nonsensical but in reality forgiving (particularly yourself) for the very first time is always very difficult and hard to achieve.
This is because you have to be in a constant battle with yourself and your mind has to rise very high to attain a neutral stage in order to forgive.
But no doubt, forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools in the world to heal yourself.
Why Forgive?
You see, in today’s world, forgiveness is often considered to be the attribute of the weak.
But, in reality, it weakens the power of the offender and provides the victim immense courage and strength to let go off the past.
When we are holding grudges against someone, we are actually bound to that person emotionally. By forgiving, we dissolve those haunting links.
Also, when we harbor un-forgiveness, and blame others for all our misery, it is like cancer that grows inside of us. It slowly eats us away, breeding hatred, and destroying our relationship with that other person, and also with our inner self.
But when you decide to forgive, it is like an instant miraculous healing process.
You must have experienced the lightness that comes from forgiveness. You feel like a great weight has been lifted off your mind and heart.
What a prayer this was that Jesus made, “Father forgive them…”!
If we can grasp the wonders of this statement, it will enable us to forgive, and to experience the joy that comes with that forgiveness.
Always remember, a chained spirit can never fly…so just liberate yourself!
Set yourself free from the chains of negative emotions that come from un-forgiveness.
I am sure you can do this…for you are amazing!
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