Moving past forgiveness

 

Ahhh...Christmas is almost here...time to rehash old family arguments...bicker over whose gift is "better" and other such sundries. No wonder so many say, "bah! Humbug!" As I get older, I too am tired with the charade of "peace on earth, here's your present, now where's mine?" I would rather that people gave out of love for each other, not because someone is "owed" a gift. Does this sound familiar? "Hmph! I gave her a present and the one she gave me is hardly worthy of being  a donation to the thrift store!" whoa! Such...gratitude? Whatever happened to kindness? Respect?

Think back to the tradition of gift giving" when the Magi caught up with the Holy Family; the gifts they had brought were practical: gold, which, for a family who suddenly needed to flee Herod, was a precious gift. It offered them a chance to start over in a strange land. Frankincense, a gift that has both medicinal and practical uses. Again, a gift for a family that would have been deemed worthy. Myrrh, a gift that was considered of use as an anointing oil. Some say that it foreshadowed Jesus' death as it can also be used for embalming.

I read the following story today in my "Chicken Soup for the Soul" e-mail. It speaks of forgiveness, coming at a time when the holidays can be either a demon or a delight, depending on whose perspective one views it from. Please read on. If this story applies to you, maybe you need to step back, see what has happened in your life and how can it be mended. It is never too late to begin again!
Click on the link below!

moving past forgiveness