Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. ~ Mark Twain
The art of forgiving is much more than the acceptance of an apology. To forgive, is to let go. Dr. Wayne Dyer once said that “love is forgiving… One word and two words.”
Love is For Giving. We all want to love and to be loved. Love is for giving between two individuals and is a sacred component of gratitude and our innate capacity to bring that which is beautiful into our lives.
Love is also forgiving. In order to love, we must first learn to love ourselves. Unfortunately, here is where the difficulty in love’s journey begins. It is human nature to seek completion from others. However, this goes against what has always been known. To Love Another, You Must First Love Yourself. If love is forgiving, we must also learn to forgive and let go of the anger, fear, and sadness associated with past wrongs others have committed against us and that we have committed against ourselves. It is from this perspective, that inner love can make the space needed to give love to others.
What are your thoughts? I thank you and look forward to exploring this topic more in depth with you.
© 2019 Dr. Thomas C. Maples
One response to “Forgiveness Is The Foundation of Gratitude”
Love does indeed require us to love ourselves before we can extend it in a relationship with another person. Forgiveness extends compassion towards another person, and this gratitude helps to rebuild a damaged love.