Moral Of The Story:

“As long as you don’t forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy rent-free space in your mind.”

— Isabelle Holland

“Cindy, I am one of the happiest big losers, but it has nothing to do with how much I weigh or the popular television show,” a friend said recently. She had a light in her eyes, along with a relaxed countenance. “I’ve lost something that has weighed me down for years. I was burdened by the weight of unforgiveness, which seemed to keep compounding while my joy in life kept shrinking. But thanks to God, prayer and a good counselor, that’s all changing for the better.”

She learned that she needed to forgive some people in her past who had hurt her deeply, even if they never asked for her forgiveness.

“I gave them way too much power in my life by obsessing about them and being rehurt by them whenever I thought about them,” she said. “It was like they were living rent-free in my mind and by forgiving them, I finally evicted them. They don’t control me anymore.”

We talked about the freedom that comes with forgiveness. God is eager to forgive us when we ask Him to, and He does miracles in relationships when we forgive others or when it is our turn to ask forgiveness.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that what happened is all right, but it will help make you more ”all right” inside. It may not change the past, but it changes us in the present and it helps us have a healthier future.

And you can quote me on that.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks to parenting groups. She may be reached at cindy@onthegrow.com or 537 Newport Center Drive, Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.