Peace: The Gift Forgiveness Gives To You

Forgiving others can be challenging depending on the degree of the perceived offense. Yet, often times forgiving ourselves can be even harder to do. In this human experience we are all subject to making mistakes. We say things we don't mean in the heat of an intense emotional upset that we later regret. We also allow our deep seated fears to sometimes control our behavior and cause us to to act out in a manner we later feel embarrassed or ashamed of. 

Yes, we all have a touch of crazy within us to one degree or another. And when the "crazy" within ourselves comes out, causing us to have temporary insanity, we experience moments where we do or say things that does not reflect our true character or represent our core believes and standards for living. When this happens we can be very hard on ourselves for such slip ups. In fact, we're often times harder on ourselves for making mistakes than we tend to be on others for their humanness.

Perhaps it has something to do with the idea that we expect other people to have a touch of crazy but not ourselves. Or it could be that we some how think we are exempt from such human tendencies. So when we fall short of the otherwise perfect image we secretly and subconsciously have in our minds of ourselves it can be hard to accept and even harder to forgive. 

The mind begins it's incessant negative chatter saying things like, "why did you say that to him or her...you never think before you speak." Or, "You're such an idiot, why did you do that...you know better than that, your mother/father would be so ashamed of you for doing that if he or she were still alive." Here's another good one, "You're such a failure, how could you allow yourself to get pregnant again." Or, "No one will ever love you now that you're a two time divorcee. You're so unworthy of love."

Why do we punish ourselves so harshly like this for simply being human. Living is about learning and the best teacher to help us learn is our own life experiences. Forgiving ourselves for our mistakes allows us to get the lesson and the blessing that comes along with every experience we go through in life. And the extra bonus gift that comes along with self-forgiveness is inner peace also known as peace of mind.

Truth is, when you forgive yourself you are no more condoning your own inappropriate behavior than you are when you forgive someone else. What you are in effect doing by forgiving yourself is loving yourself enough to extend the same grace to yourself as you do to others when they err.

Self-forgiveness allows you to remember that you too are a child of the Most High God. And as Peter said in, Acts 10:34, "...God is no respecter of persons." This means the same goodness, grace, mercy and forgiveness that is available to others from God is also readily available to you. It also means the unconditional love that Holy scripture tells us God has for all His people includes you as well. But you have to learn to accept yourself unconditionally as God does in order to feel such abiding love within and the pathway to such love is through self-forgiveness.

So the next time you're "inner roommate" is playing the recording that reminds you of all your past mistakes, mess-ups, and missed opportunities non-stop, the way to shut it up is to pray for forgiveness, then forgive yourself. And the next time your deep seated fears makes your inner crazy show up causing you to behave in a manner that is so unlike you, just remember this acronym for the word PEACE by, Iyanla Vanzant, best selling author, teacher and life coach on her television show, Fix My Life, from her book, Until Today!, she writes,  "Please Excuse All Crazy Experiences."

Forgive yourself , spend no more time beating yourself up. Allow yourself to move beyond the feelings and thoughts of shame, guilt, embarrassment and unworthiness. As long as you are living you are going to make mistakes in order to continue learning and growing. Yet, if no one ever told you before know as of today that no matter how many mistakes you make, as a child of God, you will always be worthy of Love.

Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep you heart open and your Love Light on.

A One Love Production

By Anna M. Hendricks

Copyright 2013
References: Holy Bible, Lamsa's Aramaic Translation, Until Today!, Iyanla Vanzant

Two Key Elements of Unconditional Love: Forgiveness and Grace

Loving unconditionally also means learning to extend grace and forgiveness to another for things both big and small. It’s not always the major offenses like betrayal, deceit or disloyalty that lead to the breakdown of a relationship. Sometimes it’s the little things that we fail to truly forgive and let go. Over time such small offenses build up and turn into an unconscious resentment that begins to show up in our attitude and behavior when interacting with the person.

For example, certain personality differences, habits and repeated small mistakes or oversights made by the person that your, more meticulous, attention to detail, personality type finds extremely annoying, careless or irresponsible about the other person. However, before you judge the imperfections of another so harshly remember in our human nature we are all flawed to one degree or another. This means, as hard as this may be to believe, accept or digest, the truth is that you too have some personality traits, habits or idiosyncrasies that really annoy someone else, rather they’ve brought it to your attention or not.

This is not just with friends and those we work with but it’s especially true in our close personal relationships of those we have to live with as well. Like a husband, wife, romantic partner, roommate, or siblings who still live at home with mom and dad. Maintaining a meaningful relationship of any kind is hard within itself. Yet, trying to sustain a relationship on top of adding co-habitation to the mix to raises this challenge to a whole new level.

Anytime you put two or more people in the same living space together it requires a great deal of patience, compassion, understanding, consideration, and yes…enormous amounts of grace…i.e. forgiveness. Why? Because although we meet people throughout life with whom we have much in common, reality is, God made no two people exactly alike. Which in effect means, in order to live in harmony we have to learn to accept the differences between our personalities and another’s that in due time will surely show up. And the best way to accomplish this huge feat is by finding a way to embrace rather than resist the things about another that makes them as unique as your own personality quirks also makes you uniquely you.

So the next time your spouse, mate, lover, co-worker, sibling or friend does that thing he or she does that just really irks your nerves, remember this scripture from Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Be patience and extend them a little grace.

Forgive, let go and don’t sweat the small stuff because in the grand scheme of things if that person, you otherwise so dearly love, were to die tomorrow all those little habits and things they do that annoy you so much would suddenly become small things. So why not see them for the truth of what they really are now. Doing so will allow you to get on with enjoying your relationship and loving that person to the best of your ability while they’re still here today. As I’ve said before I say again as a reminder. “To err is human but to forgive is divine.”

Until next time…I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep your heart open and your Love light on.

A One Love Production

By Anna M. Hendricks

Copyright 2013

The Power and Importance of Forgiveness

December is here already which means it's time for us to prepare our final farewells to yet another year that has so quickly gone by. In doing so, we also cross the bridge into another new year filled with excitement and uncertainty over the unknown possibilities of dreams still ahead of us to fulfill, and new wonderful experiences yet to unfold. And the best way to kick off  the new year is with a mental and emotional clean slate. Along with an open heart ready to embrace life and all the love that makes life worth living. 

So to help you bring 2013 to a close in peace and enter 2014 ready to prosper, my Inspirational Love Note messages to you this month will be on, The Power and Importance of Forgiveness. Here's why....

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year that brings us together with family, love ones and old friends we haven't seen or  spent quality time with in awhile. Yet, this time of year often also reunite us with people we haven't seen or talk to in a while for a reason. That reason most often being due to a falling out, an argument, misunderstanding or mistake from the past that led to deep wounds, hurt feelings, and a broken relationship that now desperately needs mending. 

However, while a relationship may desperately NEED mending doesn't always mean it's possible to do in every situation. Especially if  the damage done was severe and the offender refuses to apologize. Even worst, they may be unable to see the inappropriateness of their actions, words or behavior that resulted in the painful outcome. Or they just flat out and stubbornly don't feel they did anything wrong. 

Yet, despite the pain the situation may have caused you to endure and the other persons unwillingness to at least meet you half way on the road to redemption, your lack of forgiveness of the person or situation causes you to suffer more than anything they may have said or done that caused your initial hurt. Holding on to grievances, resentment, anger, over things of the past does you a huge disservice and brings you absolutely no good. 

In fact, holding grudges is a complete waste of your energy and time because it takes more energy to stay mad than it does to forgive and move on with your life. It also poisons your heart which blocks your blessings, keeps you locked in a mental and emotional prison, and over time can even begin to negatively affect your health. 

So you see, in truth, forgiveness is NEVER about or for the benefit of the other person. Forgiveness is ALWAYS about and for you. Contrary to what many perceive and believe about it, forgiveness doesn't let the other person off the hook, validate, or excuse their behavior or offense. Nor does it prove them right and you wrong. Forgiveness doesn't even mean or require that you resume having a relationship with the person. 

And it most certainly doesn't mean that you are weak and they are strong. It takes a great deal of spiritual and emotional strength and maturity to perform the act of forgiveness. Therefore, it is you who are proving to be the strong one by choosing not to allow the behavior of another to steal your inner power and joy. 

Forgiveness free's your mind, purifies your heart, heals your soul, and allows you to move on with your life while continuing to let your love light shine. It also allows you to be more open and receptive to your blessings, use your energy more productively. Most importantly, forgiveness allows you to spend your precious time here on earth sharing your life with those who are truly deserving of being a part of it.  Remember, to error is human...but to forgive is divine.

Until next time I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep your heart open and your Love light on. 

A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013

The Tie That Binds: A Poem for Humanity

Order our steps dear Lord throughout this day,

in everything we may do, think or say....

Help us to see only the glory of you

in all things I pray...

Direct our steps Lord in a good and orderly way

Teach us...guide us...let your love abide us

Lend us your wisdom

and in our affairs of the heart remind us,

that your Holy Spirit is the tie that binds us

Help us to forgive and heal our wounds

both present and past...

That we may find peace in our hearts at last

Lastly dear Lord, yet most importantly,

remove the veil of judgement from our eyes,

and awaken our consciousness that we may

all begin to clearly see...

In Truth and in Spirit we are one big family,

that must overcome our human differences

and learn to live in harmony.

Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to keep your heart open and your Love light on. 

A One Love Production
By Anna "Ms.Poet" Hendricks
Copyright 2013

Cryin' is Like Takin' Your Soul to the Dry Cleaners

I often wonder why people find honor in stubbornness and pride,

instead of honoring what they’re truly feelin’ inside.
Why is cryin’ looked down on like you’re doing something wrong.
And who’s the fool that started the myth that for a man to cry
means he ain’t strong.

Well I say…brother if you're in pain it would behoove you
to cry very hard and long.
‘Cause be it woman or man what people don’t seem
to understand...
Is that cryin’ is like takin’ your soul to the dry cleaners.

See there’s a huge misperception that being in tune with
your feelings only applies to the meek...
And just because women aren't afraid to be vulnerable,
doesn't mean we’re emotionally weak.

Now pull up a chair and listen closely while
I tell you what I know.
When the trials and tribulations of life are high,
yet your endurance is kinda low…
It takes a lot of spiritual strength and wisdom
to give it to God and let it go.

See holdin’ on to negative emotions blocks
your blessings and the opportunity to grow.
So if you’re lookin’ for a peace that passes
all human understanding…
Just open your heart and let the poison flow.
‘Cause cryin’ is like takin’ your soul to the dry cleaners.

A One Love Production
(From the personal journals of Anna Ms. Poet Hendricks)
Original Copyright July 2003, revised March 2011 & November 2013 

Thanksgiving:The Perfect Time for Gratitude and Forgiveness

"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun."  ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

With the end of November bringing with it Thanksgiving, which officially kicks off the Holiday Season, it's usually the time of year when we begin to reflect on all the things in our lives we are grateful for and appreciate most. However, it's also the perfect time to take inventory of our hearts and ask God to reveal to us who or what in our lives we need to forgive, release and let go. It is the perfect time to take notice of the relationships, beliefs, attitudes, habits, situations and/or material things in our lives that we've out grown.

So as you contemplate and prepare your menu for this weeks Thanksgiving feast, try adding a little gratitude and forgiveness to your list of perfect side dishes to compliment your turkey dinner this year. Give thanks for all that you have while also forgiving all that has left you feeling hurt and release that which you no longer need.

To resist the cycle of change, that is part of the natural process of life, is like trying to swim against the tide of an ocean rather than relax and go with the flow and direction of the current, which would require a lot less effort on your part. By continuing to hold on to things out of fear of moving forward, despite the clear evidence life is showing us that it's time to move on, we do more of a disservice than good to both ourselves and those involved in or affected by the situation.

When we look to nature as an example of how to actively practice non-resistance of the seasons of change in life for releasing and letting go, we see how the tree's do no fight with the change of season from summer to fall because they know that the onset of fall means it's time to shed their leaves. If you watch closely during this process it almost seems as if the trees open up and embrace the change, instead of resisting, as they effortlessly allow the leaves to change color from moist rich green to a dry blend of red, russet and yellow as they gently detach from the tree branches and gently float to the ground.

When this process is complete the once fully blossomed trees now appear to our human eyes to be left standing with bare and barren branches leaving the tree looking lifeless. However, from the perspective of the tree, I imagine it probably feels much happier, lighter and free with all those leaves finally gone and no longer weighing down its branches.

Such is the case with releasing the relationships, thoughts and things that represent the leaves weighing down the branches of our lives. Using the aforementioned example of the trees knowing when to shed their leaves with non-resistance, it would behoove us to also practice non-resistance when the time comes for us to let go of whatever is holding us back from freely moving forward to the next season of our lives as well. And there's no better time to take inventory of what needs to be released from our lives than now.

By expressing gratitude for what you have received and surrendering that which you no longer need back into the universe you are not only allowing that person, place, or thing to move on to its higher good, you are also making room for the next wave of blessings that's sure to come in your own life as well. So in the end, it benefits all involved to practice non-resistance to this natural process of release, letting go, growth and change.

Yet, until we reach a state of self-mastery consciousness, which most of us will probably not achieve in this lifetime, the art of non-resistance to such major shifts and changes in this human experience is much easier said than done. This is why I believe supports groups are so successful because there is power in working together as a group of people with the same end goal in mind who are also on one accord in consciousness about attaining that end goal.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun." So let's use this time and season that's ripe for forgiveness and healing to purifying our hearts, cleanse our minds and sweep out the debris of negative thoughts, judgments, beliefs, perceptions, and resentments that have been cluttering up the floors, doors and closet spaces of our minds.

Let's  bring this last week of the month to a close by being a support to one another for growth and healing. Together let's prepare for the high expectations of our glorious future in the coming new year, by willingly releasing what needs to be released, letting go of whomever we need to let go, and forgiving whoever or whatever we still need to forgive. With an open and non-resistant heart, attitude and mind, let's surrender it all to God. In fact, let's take this opportunity of this Thanksgiving Holiday to put our faith and trust back in the infallible hands of God where it rightfully belongs, rather than placing them in the imperfect hands of people, things or situations.

And to help us stay focused on this "end goal", to free ourselves of anything blocking us from having and keeping an open and receptive heart of love, all of my Inspirational Love Notes, shared with you through my poems, articles and quotes, for the rest of this week will be in alignment with the theme of renunciation and renewal. Let's heal our hearts and move forward in love together. After all...as children of the Most High God we are more than worth the effort.


Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to keep your hearts open and your love lights on.


A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013

Affirmation of Spiritual Observation

I am the observer...

I am not that which I observe.

I am in the world yet not of it.

Though I experience the world,

I am not that which I experience.

 

I am the spirit that dwells within...

The conscious Being,

aware of all that is unfolding

outside of me and around me

that appeals to my senses of taste...

touch...hearing...sight...and smell.

 

Yet I do not have to respond or react

to all that appeals to my senses of taste...

touch...hearing..sight...and smell.

I can choose...to sit back and simply observe,

allowing nothing to disturb the peaceful calm

of my soul...

 

I am at peace...I am calm

And all is well.

 

 

 

A One Love Production

By Anna M. Hendricks

copyright 2013