Forgiveness - Clearer

This is the book I have been reading during my nighttime devotionals.

Last night, "ironically," I read about forgiveness.

"Ironic" because I've been desperately praying to Heavenly Father to get me out of Anger.

Three days in Anger is more than I recommend.

After my prayer, I opened my book to forgiveness.

My sisters and I have been talking about forgiveness lately...

How it feels very hard... even unattainable.

But as I read last night, I recognized that I have been thinking about forgiveness differently than what is actually helpful for me.

This is what I took from it:

* Forgiveness is seventy times seven times, however this is (or at least can be) regarding the exact same person or experience. Forgiveness is not a one-time thing. It may have to happen over and over and over again toward the same person or thing.

* Sometimes (or a lot of the time) we actually hold onto pain inflicted by people or things because we can use those things as part of our narrative. We want to be able to use these things or people to not take accountability for our choices since. 

* Forgiveness for me is, beginning last night, is going to include visualization. I did it last night. I visualized putting people or experiences into buckets and placing those buckets at the Savior's feet. Then walking away. 

The idea is that it is no longer ours to deal with.

 We can put things or people into the bucket and place them at His feet.

It truly is not ours to carry.

BUT, what that also does is require us to take accountability for our own actions and not be a victim forever.

I can do this forgiveness thing! 

In fact, today I am traveling from Anger to Forgiveness.