'FORGIVENESS IS FREEDOM' BY SULLEE J

‘Forgiveness Is Freedom’
By: Sullee J

Forgiveness is a virtue, a necessity in one’s character. Forgiveness is a quality one must practice in order to increase equality. An act of kindness is sometimes difficult but it is discipline for the soul, a cure for the heart, and peace for the mind. Some of us have become so self-righteous in our lives that we live, but forget the greatest reason of living: To be at peace, to hold no grudges in one's heart, to build no hate, which ultimately reciprocates and inevitably metastasizes and spreads throughout our souls invisibly and unconsciously. When one forgets to forgive, one forgets to see clearly. Most of the time, it creates a certain hate within us. Hate is a burden which piles up on the heart, as if it were almost a poison, or an internal cancer which slowly kills. The weight of hatred continues to build like an overdose of medicine.  This deadly poison penetrates the body, mind and soul, leading to complex medical and mental health issues. Stress is a major cause of Heart attacks and strokes, which are the main causes of death in our world today. What causes stress?  Finances are cited commonly but I would argue that human relationships inflict more damage.  More often than not, the close relationships in which something has gone severely wrong.  Most of the time, our inflated pride does not allow us to ask for forgiveness or even to grant it unto others if they ask for it.

Forgiveness is the character of deity, but also an aptitude which gives any human the power to do so. Forgiveness is free, and it allows us to breathe after doing so. Forgiveness, regardless of what the situation is, may be the ultimate purpose for us, for if we expect ourselves to be forgiven for our mistakes, why do we withhold the same benefit from others?  I have been through situations where anger was the main culprit and I did not speak to people who were close to me for months, even years.  My biggest regret was not forgiving them. It was a tremendous relief for my heart to let it go and forgive them. Sometimes we hold on to problems for so long that we forget what we were even angry at. Sometimes we let go of the people who matter most, over things which matter little. Sometimes we realize too late, because we did not forgive early enough. You might not see the importance of opening the doors of your heart to someone who has wronged you in the moment, but the best way to do so is put yourself in a similar position. As human beings, we are all fallible, but not every mistake we make is intentional. It is a shame, we haven't fully understood the art of forgiveness. Surely it is because we do not forgive, that we are in a constant battle against each other. Until we learn to forgive and understand it's bounty in entirety, the world will continuously suffer.

Forgive but don't forget. I am asking you to forgive who has hurt you, but I understand that it does not mean that things are going to be the same way they use to be. Someone might have done something really cruel, which took a drastic toll on your heart. Forgiving them will allow you to live, whether you chose to stay in touch with that person or not. It still makes a huge difference by making you feel better about yourself, and secondly, majority of the time, people are not used to being forgiven.  Forgiveness can change a person’s whole life. It can be the second chance a person was waiting for. Forgiveness shows purity, humility, piety and true love. Forgiveness allows a person to get closer to oneself, and God. We have to realize, the only thing we gain from holding something deep inside is pain, stress, anger, resentment, regret. If you can justify any one of those things to be positive, I pray for you.  Ultimately there is nothing good about feeling any of those things. Forgiveness can save your life and others’ lives. After all, forgiveness is another form of charity.

I always try and display a form of equality between humanity in general, and would like give a few examples from different religions views on forgiveness. I do this because, most people like to judge and generalize religion through what they see in the mass media, but it is the individuals they show who do bad things, not the religion itself. We all have similarities, and I believe we have the ability to live in unity as “ONE.”  A good place to begin is if we just learn to open our eyes, our minds and hearts. We live in an angry world, I hope we can start forgiving each other and moving on.

Quran: It has also been revealed in the Qur’an that forgiveness is a superior moral trait: “But if someone is steadfast and forgives, that is the most resolute course to follow.” [Qur’an, 42:43] For that reason, believers are forgiving, compassionate and tolerant people who, as revealed in the Qur’an, “control their rage and pardon other people.” [Qur’an, 3:134]

Bible: Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?  Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

Buddhism: Forgiveness is seen as a practice to prevent harmful thoughts from causing havoc on one’s mental well-being.

Torah: On the contrary, one should be easily pacified and find it difficult to become angry. When asked by an offender for forgiveness, one should forgive with a sincere mind and a willing spirit. Forgiveness is natural to the seed of Israel." (Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah 2:10)

Just like many other religions, we all share certain guidelines which are stated only for the betterment of our own morals. Can we be wrong for doing right? Absolutely not! Forgiveness is something you can never be wrong for doing. Forgiveness is the key.  It is the key to a humble heart, a clean conscience, a strong soul, and an understanding peace between two sides. We must learn to repent and forgive, instead of eventually regretting how we live.

If you have just read this article, take it as a sign. God bless!

(Poem by Sullee J)

Forgiveness Vs. Revenge

Our independance and courage

Open heart and fit physical

Mindless actions with impulse strategy

Rage from within the bottle of miserable

He knows not what he does

And thinks after he leaps for his grudge

One is cheated before he can cheat himself

For' his shadow has eyes which blink

And will put a slope to darken his health

When he steeps to the gutters stink

One who see's wrong, must not become of it

Although in the midst, the myst blinds the

Dust which comes from it

He asks himself, to take or not

Ones life, who repeatedly let the stains rot

Forgiveness is a harder victory

For' revenge is simple and plain

But we shall not become a permanent marker in history

Instead a dribble and keep playing