Growing up I had a neighbor who liked to joke about how she was older than her grandmother. Some people celebrate the fact that they were born on this special day while others find it a real hassle. Updating their personal files in this age of computer data recording has caused some of them problems. How we approach any particular day is a matter of our attitude. Our attitudes and our feelings result in our behaviors. We have the power to choose how we want the day to go.
That is also true regarding how we approach the whole topic of forgiveness. Forgiveness is personal empowerment. If we want to be in control of our own lives and our own destinies we must learn how to let go and forgive. Not forgiving is like a cancer to our own body. For millions of people, this month is a time of Lent. Lent can be viewed like a journey that is 40 days long. Journeys can experience different ups and downs, smooth highways and detours, varying weather conditions, and various destinations. But we can prepare for whatever happens along the way. What do you think your life would be like if you chose to go on a journey to wholeness? Many people think of Lent as a time to give up something as a sacrifice. Instead of “giving up” chocolate or some other thing you enjoy, this year try letting go of some bitter and resentful feelings and giving up a grudge you have been holding for a long time. This Lenten season, celebrate the gift of giving and receiving forgiveness. If we are really lucky maybe while we are forgiving someone else, somebody will be willing to forgive us too.