Monday Course In Miracles

We just have to be willing to forgive. 

Let's make forgiveness a spiritual practice. Let's start with ourselves! 

Blessings, 

Virginia

Love Forgives

  Love makes mistakes. Love forgives. Love never harbors guilt.

After more than 16 years and over 200,000 miles, my green queen simply died. You can read my tribute  to my beloved mini van here.

I was so excited when I bought my new Ford Focus. I named her Zippy. It was the car I had been wanting for so long!

I love driving it. I love the gas mileage. I am beyond grateful to have such a reliable vehicle. My kids know this.

My youngest recently got his license. We share Zippy. He pays a small portion of the insurance hike and is great about tossing in a few bucks of gas.

He is a great driver.

If I don't need my car, I let him take it.

He came home this morning after practice, "Mom?.."

The look on his face was horrifying.

 I thought someone had died.

"It's your car."

He hit a friend's truck backing out. There is a big old dent in the side of my car. His friend's truck has no damage.

I hugged him.

Then I said," You poor thing. You must feel horrible. It is okay. It is just a dent in a car."

He asked me why I felt sorry for him.

I shared a memory.

When he was in fourth grade I accidentally slammed the green queen's door on his hand. I was dropping off his siblings at the junior high.

 He was climbing into the front seat as I wished them off. I shut the door without even looking and then screamed when I turned back.

No bones were broken.  He got a cool cast to protect his bruised fingers.

All day at school whenever an  adult asked him about his cast, their response was, " Oh your poor mother"

He didn't get it.

I think he gets it now.

Love makes mistakes. Love forgives. Love never harbors guilt.

Blessings, 

Virginia 

Sign up on the top right!

How to Forgive.

Forgive and Forget.

Is that really possible when you have been hurt by someone you love?

Forgiveness used to frighten me. I thought that if I forgave, I was somehow being weak. Only when I understood what forgiveness  is NOT  could I receive it's gift.

Forgiveness is not condoning or even accepting the behavior of the person who hurt us.
Forgiveness doesn't mean we will never have feelings about the the situation.
Forgiveness doesn't mean we will forget.
Forgiveness doesn't even involve the other person.

Forgiveness can only happen after we have delved into our feelings around the hurt. Often times that delving involves a therapist, a coach, or a trusted friend.

Forgiveness starts as a willingness and in time leads to no longer being a victim of our circumstances.

Forgiveness has nothing to do with the other person and everything to do with you. Once you have forgiven you are free from those dark feelings of revenge and bitterness and resentment. Once you have forgiven you can look ahead to a brighter future.

One of my favorite prayers:
   "Dear God, Help me to forgive. Help me to see love and not fear."

Mondays Course in Miracles

My daily spiritual practice includes studying The Course in Miracles. Each Monday I share a quote from the text.

Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world. ACIM