Thought for the day…forgiveness is a strength. Today I was reminded of allegations that I went through while fostering. The allegations were difficult and hurtful. I didn’t enjoy the process at all! Through it I learned a lot, but today I think I learned my greatest lesson…it is ok to forgive those who cause you so much pain.
I just advised someone that allegations can make your stronger. My allegations have led to a better relationship with my Agency and my Social Worker. How did this happen? I think that we all made mistakes, but it is in the forgiving one another and allowing one another to learn from mistakes made, that we built a relationship that is now stronger than it began. Is it always perfect? No, but there are now things in place to help keep things safe and healthy. We learned…we forgave…and we healed.
Is this always going to work? I don’t know. Life isn’t easy, and sometimes mistakes are too big to forget, but forgiveness isn’t about allowing others to harm you, it is about not allowing your feelings to cause you harm. This forgiveness is about letting go of that huge weight instead of hanging onto it. I feel stronger for the relationships built through a difficult time and this is good. Why is this so important? To forgive?
How will our children learn the power for forgiveness if we don’t first show it to them and to others? They learn by watching, and experiencing. They see you forgive and see how you are strengthened by it. They experience the gift of forgiveness and one day offer that gift to another, perhaps even to you. This forgiveness as a strength is important. The power to forgive is something that you can also give yourself…remember…you are human, you will mess up, but you are also allowed to learn, forgive, and heal.
Take care, and have a wonderful day today! I hope that you find strength in some of your struggles and that you learn to forgive as it is a gift that makes yourself and your children so much stronger.