Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got. ~Robert Brault, American writer
Sometimes it’s the little things
That pierce us to the core.
The little snubs, the little sneers,
The expressions we abhor.
In their defense they might not know
The arrows they are sending.
The words they say or leave unsaid
The hearts they’re blithely rending.
But sometimes it’s the little hurts
The brutal stomps upon our pride
That nag us for the longest while
And over time get magnified.
I’ve heard it takes a bigger person
To forgive and forget life’s pains.
We think revenge, we spout invectives
When ’tis better to release the chains.
Calm yourself and ground yourself
In beauty and in peace.
You’re special, valued, and capable
Let your fears and worries cease.
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Forgiveness is freedom. So well done, Debbie.
So true, John. Thank you for summarizing so beautifully!
😀
Very nice. And so true, too.
Thank you, Dawn. I’m glad it resonated with you!
Debbie you shared a WEALTH of inspiration and truth in this post.
“We think revenge, we spout invectives
When ’tis better to release the chains.”
Yes, because revenge and bitterness only keeps us attached to hurts. It’s very to do at times, but forgiveness is a release from from thoughts and emotions that keep us prisoners.
Thanks so much for sharing this today, my friend. Great post! Love the photograph you share too. It’s beautiful!
Have a great week!
X
That photo came from a trip to the Botanic Garden in Chicago. I love how peaceful it looks, and I’m glad you liked it, too!
Ron, thank you for your kind words. You know I’m no poet, but I’m delighted when my friends encourage me to express myself in verse. You’re so right in saying that revenge and bitterness keep us attached to hurts. And when we’re feeling that way, we come to a standstill. Forgiving, even when it’s hard and often when we don’t see the fault as being ours, is key to moving forward.
Have a wonderful week, my friend! xx
And can’t we build those little things up into big things? The phrase about making a mountain out of a molehill comes to mind — just what you were saying, in a slightly different way.
Letting go of resentments, a sense of being offended — all of that — is hard. But, just like any life skill, it gets easier with practice. Our society has decided that being a victim is a good thing, so deciding not to be a victim can be a hard thing, too. But it’s possible — thank goodness.
“Making a mountain out of a molehill” expresses it well, Linda. We all do it, to some extent. Perhaps we’re more apt to do it when we’re feeling particularly vulnerable or incapable. Maybe some of us just need more sleep!
At any rate, letting go is the answer. We can’t solve all the world’s ills; we can’t “fix” ignorant or mean people. Why some folks seem to derive pleasure from hurting others is beyond me. As my dad used to tell me, “Just let it wash over you like water off a duck’s back!”
Ah, if only more of us could forget the slights and maybe stop slighting others too! Excellent poem, Debbie. 🙂
You know, FF, you’ve brought up a good point. I wonder why people slight others when they know how hurtful it feels. You’d think those who have been hurt would be the first ones to stop casting stones, but too often they’re the very ones inflicting the most pain. Hmm, probably a correlation there, but I don’t see it right now.
Thanks, Debbie, for your encouraging words. Sometimes it’s hard not to let mean things people have said play like a tape recorder in our hearts, but forgiving (& shutting the recorder off) sets us free from word stings. Blessings! 🌷🤪🌷
Thank YOU, Virginia, for dropping by and reminding us that shutting that tape recorder off is so important. I suppose we all need to develop “selective memory,” keeping in the forefront of our minds the compliments and nice things people say rather than dwelling on the barbs!