Forgiveness

I am a collector of quotes. I ran across one recently that I like. “Forgiveness means giving up all hope of a better past.” My resources tell me that Lily Tomlin was the originator. Whoever came up with that one is brilliant in my opinion.

I never really thought about forgiveness in this manner. I do know I hang on to the past. I want the past back. I want a do-over in so many areas. I’m sure this is normal, or maybe not. It doesn’t really matter. It’s not who I am, but something I am working to change.

I am just starting to realize what a futile exercise this is. Why waste so much energy on it? It won’t change a thing. I didn’t equate it with forgiveness, however. It gave me pause, food for thought.

Forgiveness means giving up all hope of a better past.

Makes senses. I can’t change the past, but who am I forgiving?

I think the answer in my case is me. I have a hard time letting go of the past because I don’t give myself a break, the kindness of allowing myself the freedom to be human, to make mistakes. To err is human, right? I am definitely human.

Forgiveness, though, how does that tie in with letting go of the past?

I read an article on The Huffington Post, a worthy and entertaining website. Here is some of what it said: This quote is often met with either people saying “aha” or laughing because it is simply so true. When we refuse to forgive, it’s as if we’re holding onto the past and saying “see past, I’m not going to let you have the pleasure of me letting go of you.” Meanwhile, the past is the past, it’s not happening right now in the present moment — or is it?

I think it is as long as I keep holding on to it, keep wishing it away, keep desperately hoping it will somehow be different than the reality it was, then yes, it continues to happen over and over. I think I want to change that now.

I’m sure this isn’t rocket science for most of you. It’s not for me either, however, I have a hard time implementing it.

It’s getting easier though, as I learn to trust God with my future and walk out each day, one day at a time.

If forgiveness myself means letting myself off the hook and the way to do so is giving up all hope of a better past, then I’m in.