“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and
discover that the prisoner was you.”
Lewis B. Smedes
There have been times that though I said, I forgive you, I still held onto the offense and let it fester within until I was simply miserable. Looking all around me to see what was wrong, neglecting to look at myself with an open and honest heart, I would wonder why I was so unhappy and sad and angry.
As the quote says I was a prisoner. Locked in a prison of self-righteousness and pride. Holding onto the wrong done, real or imagined, saying the words but not letting go of the anger and hurt. Not acknowledging that I was involved in whatever the trouble was. Allowing my need to be right and blameless kept me chained in a pit of arrogance and self-importance.
I have learned some wrongs and hurts cannot or won’t be forgotten but they can be put in a box labeled, The Past. Honestly, sometimes the box spills open and the memories come back but they don’t overwhelm me. I can remember knowing that the past is over and done, all has been forgiven. Then I find a peace knowing that with forgiveness comes freedom, freedom filled with love.
Patricia's Place 
Well said and we all deal with this issue at one time or another. You’re right, the past is the past.
I linked this post to Awww Mondays.
Have a fabulous day and week. ♥
Thanks, Sandee. I wonder why the ugly past stuff pops up so strongly and the good just floats? You are so kind to do the links, I appreciate it!
Very nice, Patricia. Holding on to anger only hurts ourselves. Let the past be the past and hopefully, we learned from it.
Yes, and it is so easy to hang onto the hurts. One would think letting go of them would be an easy lesson to learn.
A wise quote from Smedes and a wise piece from you Patricia.
Thank you!😺
My pleasure
Boy, was this timely, as she sits licking her wounds. I hurt so easily, and it’s just who I am, but you are so right when you say, it locks us in our own cell. People wound one another, usually unintentionally, yet, and I can only speak for me, take it so personally. I too must nick and chafe others as I go on my travels, thought I try very hard not to.
Loved what you wrote. Simply stated, sincerely from the heart. Can’t get much better than that.
What’s that Teddy? Darn Tootin’. Mama rocks!
You are soft -hearted and compassionate and so encouraging, my friend. As for Teddy…he is mad at his mama because she yelled at him for scratching the chair and that on top of making him stick to his diet! If cats could stomp he would! 😾
That’s a funny image. I can just him slamming doors. Sigh
Actually, he does know how to slam doors! Drives me crazy.🙆
He’s Teddy Roosevelt reincarnated.
Thanks Patricia. Nothing good comes from holding onto mistakes and hurts from the past.
Fruitless is the word you’ve inspired, like watering a dead tree.
Great quote from you, Susannah. I may have to use it in a future Monday Musing post😼
Awe. That’s a nice thing to say. 🙂
Very true, Judith.
This is absolutely right. Holding on to anger is just poisoning oneself.
There’s a 12 Step slogan…we take the poison hoping the other person will die. It’s so true. Half the time, they’re so unaffected while we writhe in our wounds.
It’s so true.
Writhe in our wounds…a description that says it all!
Yeah. I’m a writher from way back. 🙂
A poison that causes an ache that just goes on and on.
Very true.
So,so,good! Thank,you, Patricia!
Thank you for visiting and letting me know you were here!