Back to the hummers and the cat.
If I want peace, I must give up
“revenge” as in ranting on social media about cat owners who do not bell their
cats, putting repellents out to ward them off, dashing out the door yelling at
the cat when I see it in my yard, etc.
My other option is to make my yard a
wasteland: no flowers, no plants, nothing that might attract hummers or other
birds.
But to do that I take away an important
piece of my own joy. Inspiration comes to me when I look out at the flowers,
see the bees, butterflies and birds.
And as to forgiveness. What is the point
of being angry at a cat for being a, well, being a cat?
You may have already surmised my
decision. Flowers, my dwarf larch, ferns, columbine, lupine: plants, trees and
flowers growing in my yard are points of inspiration (I can see it all from my
office). I also remind myself we are all here on our own journey, even the
birds and cat. And I will confess I do send energy into my yard for the safety
of birds who come to visit me. This year I’ve no evidence that isn’t working.
My questions to you today are:
What do you need to do to forgive yourself for all those things
you blame, guilt, criticize, punish yourself for?
What do you need to do to forgive other people who have “done something”
to you?
Before
you say it can’t be done, I’d want to remind you of the Amish families who
forgave the man who burst into the school and killed their children.
And, more
recently? The people who survived the shootings in Charleston, North Carolina and
the families of those who didn’t forgave the young man who’d joined their
prayer service before opening fire.
Join me next Monday when I’ll share why
forgiveness is critical to our own lives and happiness.
Your free copy of Lily: The
Dragon and The Great Horned Owl is waiting for you.
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1 comment:
It was a matter of time or distance from the event that brought guilt and shame into my life. You know the event I'm talking about, but I don't care to name it here. Now I realize it was a selfless act, and it was society that put the feeling of guilt and shame on me. I have since forgiven myself but it has taken many many years.
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