A Course In Miracles, Lesson 63

Forgiveness♡ it seems that forgiveness is the greatest of actions that we hang onto. I have written much about forgiveness. I learn more about forgiveness each and every day.

Around the time that I was writing the chapter on forgiveness in my book, Glimmers of Hope, I had a  heartfelt discussion with the two ladies in which I dedicated my book to in regards to forgiveness, which opened my eyes immensely. Like no other, the incredible gift in which both of these ladies gave to me on those day will forever be imprinted on my heart. 

My cousin is a survivor of child sexual abuse. She will tell you that she is not a victim. To me, she is a hero, because of what she endured and because she brought this to justice after thirty years. I love not only her spirit, honesty, and laughter, but her strength and dedication as well. She has shown me what true strength and forgiveness means. Knowing what she has endured throughout her journey, this  caused a wave of reflection to see forgiveness in a different light. This was a monumental shift for me, a renewed understanding and respect. Forgiveness began within her; to finally see all the beauty in her life, that SHE created. And to finally first, forgive herself and to then release the hold that her abuser had on her. She has never looked back. 

Also at this time, I met an inspiration lady who is survivor of a different kind while working at the Youth Centre in our small town. She lost her son to suicide. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain that this brings. From our very first meeting, the incredible lady has been an inspiration and a testament to the power of love and forgiveness. She has opened my eyes to her many truths and awareness’s. I am grateful for her gifts; gifts of patience, honesty and integrity, at the top of that list. She has not only survived, but has committed to understanding, without ego or judgement, but rather with grace and acceptance. 

What I opened my eyes to the most were the small things. There are so many 'things' that we hold accountable. Things that don't even matter, things that are irrelevant, things that, in our society, make us feel better by hanging onto with anger, fear, and rage. Things that we have no business being involved in. We jump and a bus and ride the wave of hate and the load gets heavier. 

I have met this realization many a time. Again last evening while watching a re-run of Jon Stewart, whose guest was Bill Clinton. I was thinking, 'How dare this man show his face, preach to the public, etc, etc, after all that he did to his wife.' Then it struck me. It not up to me to either judge nor forgive him. If he has made amends within his heart, if he has made amends with his wife, if he has made amends with God, this is for him to do and has nothing to do with me. He brings forth many important messages and for the first time, I listened. And I was grateful that I did. 

I recall a couple of years back that I read an article in regards to a man, that as a teenager, walked into a school and shot another student point blank and killed him. This was a part of my high school years as it was a part of a neighboring school in a close-knit community. The reporter was asking the, now, older man, whether or not he expected the family of the victim to forgive him. He replied, 'How can I expect them to forgive me, when I cannot forgive myself.' 

He, himself was bullied. It began at home and continued throughout his school years, until finally he could not take it anymore. The stories of his childhood and upbringing still break my heart (these are not stories that he told in hopes of asking for forgiveness, they are stories from families that lived around him and other kids that went to school with him). 

Behind every connection there is possibility. The possibility to Love and to be Loved in return. Seek in others, the beauty within themselves. The beauty that they may have forgotten, unable to see or fearful to embrace. Show them, guide them, with gentleness, kindness, compassion and care. Send them love, knowing that it is important to our growth to let go, allowing them our Grace. To discover what may be hidden, and to then release, heal, grow and best of all to love and be loved. To do so in others is in doing so to oneself.

Forgiveness♡

A Course in Miracles~ Lesson 63~ Forgiveness brings peace where there is darkness. Forgiveness will bring the world of darkness into the light.

Grace is not a specific need or event in our lives, but rather an awareness, and a transformation. It is the allowance of forgiveness to enter wholly into our lives, understood and then claimed. Through all that I have experienced over the past many months, I have discovered a new forgiveness. It still does begin within, in forgiving myself, and that which surrounds me, with new eyes, perhaps, that which I laid claim upon myself,  that I had no business owning. To forgive and let go is freeing both you and the other person. Forgive to grow and move forward. Forgive them and forgive you.

Forgiveness is about reclaiming our Authenticity. Understand that the forgiveness must be whole and complete within yourself. Forgiveness begins with forgiving you, for every experience. It’s about releasing the chains that bind you to another or an experience, that keeps you stuck in the past. 

The understanding is that forgiving ourselves means that we can begin to believe that we are worthy and lovable. As we are meant to be. Forgiveness moves us into a conscious place of Peace, Love and Happiness. To do this, we must fully and completely release the resentment and anger that is binding us from forward movement. This is a radical forgiveness, and it is a gift and our rite.

We all respond from a Secure State or Fear State of Love, at any given time. Forgiveness allows us to move past this, to respond from our love state. 

Complete Forgiveness requires A Shift in Perception; the willingness to accept the possibility that life is not simply a series of random and/or crazy events, rather, the unfolding of a Divine plan for each of us exactly how it needs to unfold for our own spiritual growth. AND we are all in this together to assist one another in their spiritual growth. In other words, every event, however pleasant or unpleasant, has been called forth by a Higher Aspect of ourselves that knows exactly what we need for our own healing, growth and lessons, on a spiritual level. The Illusion is that what appeared to have happened is far from being a tragedy. It was, in fact, exactly what we needed to experience to learn. In that sense, all events, circumstances and experiences are and were, absolutely perfect. 

Acceptance and Forgiveness, does not require that we see why an experience happened, how it happened, or that we must get it totally, to understand or perceive the minute details of the experience. What is required is the willingness to learn, grow and then move forward. That is all that is required. A Choice. We just have to be willing to be open to the idea that there is a lesson or a gift in it somewhere, and then choose peace. Peace within ourself. If you accept it as more complex than that, then you are not yet ready to move forward.
 
Release the experience and your attachment to it. Release the emotion, the feeling and your attachment to it. Release the memories that bind you to the experience.


Recognizing the importance of this function, is life changing. We will begin today by acknowledging the concept, and then close the day with the thought of it in our awareness. And throughout the day we will repeat this as often as we can:

Forgiveness brings peace where there is darkness. Forgiveness will bring the world of darkness into the light. It is my forgiveness that will bring the world of darkness into the light. The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness. I will fulfill my function that I may be happy.

If you close your eyes, you will probably find it easier to let the related thoughts come to you in the minute or two that you should devote to considering this. No chance should be lost for reinforcing today's idea. It is your forgiveness that lets you recognize the light in which you see. Forgiveness is the demonstration that you are the light exists within, within each and every one of us.

Through your forgiveness does the truth about yourself return to your memory. Illusions about yourself and the world are one. That is why all forgiveness is a gift to yourself. Your goal is to find out who you are, having denied your Identity by attacking, or through hate, anger, fear, guilt, shame, resentment. Now you are learning how to remember the truth; that this attack must be replaced by forgiveness, so that thoughts of life may replace thoughts of hate, anger, fear, guilt, shame, resentment.

Remember that in every attack you call upon your own weakness, while each time you forgive you call upon the strength of the Light within you. It will remove all sense of weakness, strain and fatigue from your mind; take away all fear, guilt and pain. It will restore the invulnerability and the power of God within , the power the God gave to his Children.

Use today's lesson as frequently as possible throughout the day. It will help to make the day as happy for you as God wants you to be. It will help those around you to share this happiness with you.

At the end of the day, devote a minute or two to considering your lesson; the happiness and release it will bring you. Let related thoughts come freely, for your heart will recognize these words, and in your mind is the awareness they are true. Your last intention for the night, before sleep, should be

‘I AM FREE TO BE ME!’ I am a loving child of God, worthy and deserving of love. I am wholly loved. I am wholly lovable. I am wholly loving. I release all restrictions and limitations. I remember this because I want to be happy. I forgive.'

With love, light, and forgiveness is my heart, Blessed Be, Lori-Lynn