“The forgiving state of mind is a magnetic power for attracting good.”
– Catherine Ponder
I believe in forgiving.
There we were. My brother and I were standing on an enormous dirt mound. I was about three and he was about five at the time so everything seemed bigger than it actually was. We always played together so I was happy that he asked me to play Simon Says with him.
When we were playing on the dirt mound everything seemed normal. Then he said, “Simon Says pretend like you’re sitting in a chair.” So I pretended to sit in a chair. But, while I was still sitting in the imaginary chair, he came up behind me and pushed me off the mound on to the rocky gravel. After crying for almost half an hour my parents took me to the hospital. The doctor said I had broken my arm.
Even though my brother had broken my arm, I forgave him. It was not very easy at first. I told him that I hated him and did not talk to him for a few days. But soon I forgot about being mad and made him sign my cast.
Thinking about it now just makes me laugh. I forgave him for what he did but not just because I am his sister, but because I am sure it was an accident. By forgiving him we were both able to move on with our lives.
Sometimes it is hard to forgive people for things but there is still some that do. Like when Pope John Paul II was almost killed. He ended up forgiving the man that tried to kill him. This would be hard to do but somehow he found it in him to forgive.
When I forgive someone I try thinking about it as if I was the one asking for forgiveness. I would want them to forgive me so why should not I forgive them? I think it is easier to forgive someone than to always hold grudges.
By forgiving someone you are forgetting the bad. And without any bad there is only good left. If everyone learned to forgive the world would be a better place. There would be less bitterness or the need to get revenge. There would probably be less fighting too. I think everyone would benefit by just forgiving.