Can Gratitude Spur Forgiveness?

I spent a lot of time pondering the relationship of gratitude and forgiveness a lot of late. As I have put this into practice this idea has impacted my life in fascinating ways.

Some experiences I had anticipated, but others came quite unexpectedly. You may be wondering what the relationship between being thankful and forgiving is all about. If you have not experienced this regularly, I invite you to experiment with the idea.

As I focused on being more grateful, I especially looked at being grateful for the trials in my life. I was taught this principle many times, but it wasn’t until recently that I moved into a frame of mind where it even seemed truly possible to be grateful for problems all the time. At times, I showed and felt gratitude for a big challenge and I saw the benefit. However, putting it into practice constantly required something of me that I wouldn’t to give up.

Pride and Thanks

When you live in pride, you cannot show sincere thanks. As you put yourself, your ideas, or your suffering above others, you fail to connect with gratefulness for the good you receive from others. As I worried more about what I wanted and turned the focus to me, I did not express real thanks. Sure, I said thank you, but the tone of my voice did not say it. As I associated more and more with people who have that tone in their voices, I knew I had missed something.

As I strove to share real thanks to others, I started to see that I needed to forgive myself for how I had acted in the past. I wanted forgiveness. I also wanted to forgive others because I realized that they had not understood what they had done. As I forgot what my intention was and I did not show gratitude, I realized that I could either go into blame, or I could forgive myself and reset that intention.

This realization was a watershed moment for me. If I wanted to keep doing what I hoped to do in life, I had to forgive myself. But, in order to give myself that forgiveness, I had to consciously recognize that I had made a mistake that needed correction. Sometimes it required that I ask someone else for forgiveness. You cannot stay in pride and move forward. It cannot happen. In order to receive and ask for forgiveness, you must put aside your pride. That might hurt when you realize that. It’s OK. Forgive yourself.

Show Appreciation By Forgiving

I had another experience that moved me deeply. I was talking to my wife about my heroes and where they stand around me. In my mind, I visualize my heroes as my protectors and my counselors. I want them around me. I need their support to accomplish what I want to do in life. So long as God allows them to be with me, I know that I can accomplish anything I desire to do.

As I was describing where my grandfather, Siegfried, stood, I described why he stood a few feet directly behind me. He had my back. I see him as a protector, ready to take on anyone who would come at me from where I cannot see them. I suddenly comprehended in that moment how much he had done that for me when I was young. He was a warrior in life, and he still battles for me and his family today. It was sweet to more fully see how he has done this for me. How grateful I am for his love.

Then there is Doyle. My dad’s dad was not much in this life as people describe him. He was selfish. He was a wanderer, a loner. In his life, he abandoned his family. He was considered to be a loser. Yet, He stands immediately on my right side. I need him as much as he needs me. The feelings of forgiveness that I have for him are overwhelming. I know he wants to be forgiven and appreciated. How can a man forgive himself if no one in his family will forgive him?

I would not exist except for the decisions he made, as bad as some of them were. I owe him so much. The trials I have gone through because of him have given me experience I needed to share my message. I am grateful for him. I love him. Forgiveness is something I offer him.

What Will You Choose Today?

I offer to you my forgiveness for your mistakes. I ask you for your forgiveness for mine. Start with something simple if you are just trying to grasp how to start down this path. It has not come easily for me, but I truly see the value in the journey. I am grateful that I get to share this now. It is remarkable to me how much love I can feel for people who treat me poorly. I am not perfect, but when I choose in to being grateful, it is so much easier.

Should you want to know more, contact me. I love sharing the steps to greater peace and connection through gratitude and forgiveness.