With Forgiveness: The Art of Forgiving, How to Forgive and be Forgiven

Forgiveness at the Holidays (259 words)
by Susyn Reeve M.Ed.

For many the holiday season amplifies feelings of loneliness. The longing for holidays past and the sense of isolation when it appears everyone else is enjoying loving family gatherings can lead to misery. This is a call for forgiveness. What is it that is actually being forgiven? As always we are forgiving our judgments and beliefs.

For instance, it may be true that you have fond memories of decorating the tree with your spouse and children, being woken on Christmas morning by eager kids, and savoring those special moments around the dinner table. And now since your kids are with your former spouse you wake to an empty house on Christmas day, and have to drag yourself to visit friends as you vacillate between tears and anger.

What beliefs fuel your suffering? If you are alone does it mean no one loves you? If you are divorced does it mean you’re a failure? If your children are away from home does it mean you must be lonely? The answer to these questions is, No. Your belief in the lie that you are alone is the true source of your misery. The truth is that God is always with us and the experience of separation is based on believing the stories told by our ego-mind.

When we focus our attention on our unquestionable connection with Spirit, loneliness dissolves. So this holiday season forgive yourself for the beliefs you've had that nourish misery. Celebrate life as the gift of creation and create thoughts honoring you and your connection with the divine.

You are welcome to reprint this article with the following information at the conclusion of the text:
Susyn Reeve M.Ed. and Sheri Rosenthal DPM are co-authors of WITH Forgiveness - Are You Ready? and co-creators of the WITH Forgiveness program at www.withforgivenessmovie.com. They both enjoy giving workshops, lectures and taking folks on spiritual journeys (you can see them at www.journeysofthespirit.com ), and being extremely happy! You can reach them at www.withforgiveness.com.