Friday, April 3, 2009

POWER OF FORGIVENESS



"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." (Lewis Smerdes)

We reacted with anger at the "creative outburst" of Mr. Fajardo, and we felt violated and protested with strong words on Mr. Tsao's discriminating remarks. Everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another. These wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger, bitterness and even vengeance. And forgiveness, like so many things in life, is easier said than done.

Sometimes forgiveness can be confused with condoning what someone has done to us.The act that hurt or offended you may always remain a part of your life. But forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, positive parts of your life. Forgiveness also doesn't mean that you deny the other person's responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn't minimize or justify the wrong. You can forgive the person without excusing the act.

Jesus himself gave us a three-step model of forgiveness among believers in the Gospel of Luke. He said: "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."
(Luke 17:3-4)

Forgiveness can be very challenging. It may be particularly hard to forgive someone who doesn't admit wrong or doesn't speak of their sorrow. Keep in mind that the key benefits of forgiveness are for you. If you find yourself stuck, it may be helpful to take some time to talk with a person you've found to be wise and compassionate, such as a spiritual leader, a mental health provider or an unbiased family member or friend.

Holding grudges are not only bad for your mind, but research is showing that it’s also bad for your health! More and more evidence is being gathered and shows that hanging on to long-term anger can actually cause a variety of major health problems. Forgiveness, on the other hand, offers numerous benefits, including:

  • Lower blood pressure
  • Stress reduction
  • Less hostility
  • Better anger management skills
  • Lower heart rate
  • Lower risk of alcohol or substance abuse
  • Fewer depression symptoms
  • Fewer anxiety symptoms
  • Reduction in chronic pain
  • More friendships
  • Healthier relationships
  • Improved psychological well-being
  • Greater religious or spiritual well-being
It may also be helpful to reflect on times you've hurt others and on those who have forgiven you. As you recall how you felt, it may help you to understand the position of the person who hurt you. It can also be beneficial to pray, use guided meditation or journal. In any case, if the intention to forgive is present, forgiveness will come in its time.

Forgiveness is good for your body, your relationships, and your place in the world. That’s reason enough to convince virtually anyone to do the work of letting go of anger and working on forgiveness.

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
(Matthew 18:21-22 )

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
(Luke 6:37)

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
(Colossians 3:13)

18 comments:

  1. Your article, Pope, is very true..Hay, buti na lang there is such thing as forgiveness, kung wala matagal na akong na-stroke..hehe Seriously this post remind of the person whom I hate most. Di siya humingi ng tawad sa akin..Kahit na siya 'yong may kasalanan ako na ang nagsabing, "pinapatawad na kita sa kasalanan mo"..

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  2. Another inspiring post from the Pope.

    Yes, the weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is a trait of the strong!

    In the Bible, it says that they asked Jesus how many times one should forgive, and He said 70 times 7. This does not mean that we will keep a record if it reached 70x7.

    That's why it's "forgive & forget"!

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  3. Because of human pride and prejudice, the person who wronged you becomes a non believer and blessed are the people lie you who never withhold forgiveness to them. Purihin ka Ruphael.

    That totals 490 forgiveness, but it shouldn't stop there, Jesus asks us to keep on forgiving, a parable illustrating that we have all been forgiven far more than we will ever be asked to forgive. Thank you for being here my friend NJ.

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  4. "...rebuke him; and if..."

    Ito ang pinakamahirap na part para sa akin.

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  5. Mas makakabuting tanggapin mo muna sa sarili mo ang iyong kamalian, ito'y pagsisihan at itama...sa ganong paraan mas mapapadali ang pagpapatawad mo sa iba...

    God Bless The Pope, Ako si Lord....LordCM lolzz

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  6. I believe that forgiving is a hidden gift, and the painful experience is equal opportunity for our growth. Salamat kaibigang RJ for opening your inner thoughts.

    Forgiveness does not mean ‘letting another person off the hook’. It means 'regaining' ourselves and being free to create the life we want, which includes love, success and happiness. You have your points LordCM.

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  7. Yup! If not for forgiveness, I might be old and my heart is cold...hehehehehehe... Life is beautiful!

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  8. Amen. I totally agree that we should always have a forgiving heart. That it manifests strength. That it's a gift. That it's not tantamount to letting the aggressor off the hook.

    Pero minsan mahirap makalimot e. Tsaka everytime I forgive someone, something inside me dies -- ung warmth ng relationship or sometimes the relationship itself. Pagpapatawad bang matatawag un?

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  9. Very inspirational post, The Pope! Very timely to make us contemplate not only on the Holy Week but for the rest of our lives.

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  11. Thanks for sharing, this is a nice post and in deed we should learn to forgive at all times. Mahirap magpatawad pero kailangan galing sa puso....mahirap pero dapat kayanin. Kasi kung ang Diyos nga nagpatawad bakit tayo hindi?

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  12. What if a man destroyed someone’s means to feed his family?
    What if a son of a politician raped and killed someone’s daughters and wife?
    What if some members of the law mistakenly shot someone’s husband and 8yr old daughter, and to cover-up their deed, peppered them w/ bullets to make sure they're dead?
    Ahh... you're right. It's easier said than done.

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  13. ang kyut ng artwork!

    Inspiring entry. Napapanahon para higit natin biyan pansin ang sakripisyo ni Bro!

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  14. Forgiveness is a choice we make. It is not a feeling or a mood or just a passing notion.

    Martin Luther once came up with a concept and draws a distinction between the duties of the Christian as a "forgiving Christian" and the duties of the Christian (or non-Christian) as a civil authority which should "never forgive, but excercise justice." Luther says "the civil authroity is to punish criminals to maintain order and justice". And I find these persuasive.

    Forgiveness may be beyond us, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. It just means that at this very moment, we may have fallen short of God’s goal for us, but it is not really impossible, there is a time for everything, probably in God's time.

    Thank you for your visits and sharing your inner thoughts my friends Nebz, Dennis Villegas, Sardonyx and BlogusVox.

    God bless and happy weekend.

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  15. Purihin ka kaibigang Bampiraako, salamat sa iyong pagdalaw at iniwang papuri. Happy weekend.

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  16. kay sarap ng pakiramdam kapag at peace ka sa mga nakapalibot sa iyo at at peace ka sa sarili mo..


    kung kaya't
    peace be with you...

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  17. Kadalasan ay ang hirap gawin, but the burden is the if we are not forget and forgive.

    It is nice to have this kind of inspirational and motivational write up. i believe it is from the heart and surely it will touches every heart.

    With Christ we can!
    God bless Kapatid!

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  18. Maraming salamat sa pagdalaw kaibigang Jez, and peace be with you too.

    Salamat sa iyong iniwang papuri kaibigang Jesus.

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