Saturday, October 03, 2015

to forgive without forgetting – v3

This is a lesson I must learn
if I am to be at peace
too long have I let pain,
hurt hold, constrain me
not letting go of anything
every sharp pain, every dull ache
remaining with me.

A lesson I must learn, first,
to be at peace, whole within my person,
“The first to apologize is the bravest.
The first to forgive is the strongest.
The first to forget is the happiest.”,
Not holding onto pain, sorrow, regret,
letting go of these things.

But maybe even more important
another, deeper lesson, to grow, to live,
to be able to forgive without forgetting
knowing the pain someone caused
yet choosing to forgive them
to let go of the deep hurt, the ache,
including the pain I caused myself.

====
edited October 3, 2015
to forgive without forgetting – v3

(editing version 2)
edited October 22, 2014
to forgive without forgetting – v2
new October 21, 2014
to forgive without forgetting
based on profile quote of
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it's actually remembering—
remembering and not using your right to hit back.”
Mpho and Desmond Tutu for the #Forgiveness Challenge
Forgiveness Challenge
The Book of Forgiving
by Archibishop Desmond Tutu
and Reverend Mpho Andrea Tutu
and story of Corrie ten Boom about forgiving former Nazis
&
edited October 20, 2014
a lesson I must learn
edited October 20, 2014
a lesson I have not learned – v2
October 17, 2014
a lesson I have not learned
“The first to apologize is the bravest.
The first to forgive is the strongest.
The first to forget is the happiest.”

author unknown
seen 10/17/2014
post 10/14/2014
on Rachel’s Challenge
and see
The first to forget is the happiest –

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 39,510+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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