The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World

by Desmond Tutu

The quality of human life on our planet is nothing more than the sum total of our daily interactions with one another. Each time we help, and each time we harm, we have a dramatic impact on our world. Because we are human, some of our interactions

Ultimately, forgiveness is a choice we make, and the ability to forgive others comes from the recognition that we are all flawed and all human.

will forgive you The words are so small But there is a universe hidden in them When I forgive you All those cords of resentment pain and sadness that had wrapped themselves around my heart will be gone When I forgive you You will no longer define me You measured me and assessed me and decided that you could hurt me I didn’t count But I will forgive you Because I do count I do matter I am bigger than the image you have of me I am stronger I am more beautiful And I am infinitely more precious than you thought me I will forgive you My forgiveness is not a gift that I am giving to you When I forgive you My forgiveness will be a gift that gives itself to me