(Photo credit Paulette)

We are taught to forgive others, but rarely are we taught to forgive ourselves. No one can force you to forgive yourself; you always have the right to do so.

In our last post SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK, we encountered a flesh- eater. And just like that tiny creature, which slips in and causes damage to our physical body, we let the power of unforgivingness sink deep in our hearts and eat away at us with the same destructive results.

In not forgiving yourself, you stand to lose more than just an extremity. Your entire life is in jeopardy.

Case in point: A woman I knew many years ago led a life of debauchery. She experimented with drugs, had multiple sex partners and most of her seven children had different fathers. After living many years like this, growing older and starting to watch her children become like her, she took her life. Unable to forgive herself and seek the help she so badly needed so she could make the necessary changes, she thought death was the better choice.

We all are damaged. We all make mistakes and do things we regret. Just like that fence post, we have many holes in our lives. And no matter how much wood filler, sanding, and staining that fence post gets, it will always be damaged. So it is with all of us. No matter how much we cover up our flaws, the scars of our painful memories remain. And that’s okay, as long as we can face them, better ourselves the best we can, and then move on from there. We have to forgive ourselves to heal our hurt.

I hope every one of us learns to forgive ourselves and others from the heart. Don’t let your past rob you of the person you are today. On our GOOD FRIDAY, look into the mirror and say, I forgive you. Keep striving, keep hoping, and keep changing for the better. And as always, keep your head up.