In Others' Words: Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is giving up the possibility of a better past." ~Unknown

I keep a gift beside my bed. It's wrapped in shiny blue paper and adorned with a white bow.

And, yes, I know what's in the box.

And, no, the gift isn't for me.

I gave the gift to someone more than a decade ago. Inside the box is a slip of paper with the words "I forgive you" written on it.

I could tell you how I'd been hurt.

But that's not the point.

Forgiveness is.

We both needed forgiveness.

I had to let go of the hurt. Not just the pain caused by the harm I'd experienced, but also the pain I was causing myself by refusing to forgive.

And I had to realize every single person deserves forgiveness. And, yes, sometimes that is unfathomable to me. But I'm not God. And his thoughts, his ways are higher than mine.

And so, I gave someone what I'd been given: forgiveness.

And, yes, I wrapped it up in pretty paper and a white bow.

Because really, there's no greater gift, is there? And it deserves a little extra touch. I've learned you can't always dress up truth so that it looks pretty — but forgiveness deserves to come gift-wrapped.

The box sits besides my bed as a reminder because I don't want to think about my past. I want to think about today. Now. And how hope — and forgiveness — spills over into my tomorrows.

In Your Words: What would your photograph of forgiveness look like?