Friday, November 12, 2010

Day 4 of the 30 Days of Truth: Something You Have to Forgive Someone For

The practice of forgiveness is our most important
contribution to the healing of the world.
~ Marianne Williamson ~


Gosh, it took me many, many  years, but I was finally able to forgive my parents....not that I forgot: it's something that you never forget.  You may grow to understand, if it that constitutes forgiveness, then I guess that I have forgiven.  I know that for many years I had no feelings, but now I know that I have always loved them.  Mom and dad lived in a different time, a time when you stayed together for the sake of the children.  I have to believe that things would have been different today.  I do know that  think I became a better parent to my own two sons because even before they were a thought, I'd promised myself that I would never hurt them the way I had been hurt.

I've yet to forgive my ex-husband.  I don't know if I ever will.  I want to for unforgiveness is like a wound festering within, yet, every time I think I have made some headway, something else rises to my conscious mind reminding me of  the evil I endured.  Evil seems such a strong word to call someone, but he really was.  He was so filled with jealousy, envy, narcissism, anger and rage.  His eyes used to dart around in a weird sort of way.  His sister swears that she saw the devil go into his room one day.  Well, I was so desperate for answers that that seemed as good as any and even went to a Catholic priest who thought I was totally off my rocker.  I must have been for I am not even a Catholic.  

But, I was desperate.  Perhaps if I understood, if I knew why he seem to hate me so, if I knew what I had done to deserve his wrath. That is how it is....when we have spent our lives being beaten down in one way or another, we always believe that things just HAVE to be our fault.  I know now that none of it was my fault; well, maybe it was my fault that I allowed it to go on for so many years.  But, that was a different time for me as well; that was a time when I just didn't think I could make it on my own.  

I know better than that now.  Although I have a loving hubby, I know that I am also strong enough to be independent if I had to be.  I don't need someone else to validate my existence.  When hubby and I first married, I couldn't even make the decision of what movie to see, what to eat...etc.  Always needed someone to do that for me.  But that was the ME that once was, the clinging me...and while, it was, in no way, my ex-hubby's fault that I was that way, but he did take advantage of it instead of trying to help me grow.  He utilized my pain and sadness to his advantage...to control...and that is what I am finding so hard to forgive.

It is getting better.  The rage I felt against is not so strong now, and sometimes it is not even there now.  I know he was placed in my life for a purpose. I like to help me to learn, but oh my gosh, did it have to be so painful?  Did it have to nearly destroy me to teach me how to live?  He's gone now.  He died of a rare form of groin cancer in 1996; it's eerie because the entire family was gone in a span of a few short months. Sometimes I wonder if, indeed, they ALL came into my life for a reason.  Sometimes I wonder if he sees me now, and if he does, what is he feeling?  Anger?  Remorse?  or a feeling of satisfaction that his work was done...that I had, in fact, become whole and strong

Forgiveness is not a moral issue.
It is an energy dynamic...
Forgiveness means that you do not carry the baggage of an experience.
When you choose not to forgive,
the experience that you do not forgive sticks with you.
When you choose not to forgive,
it is like agreeing to wear dark, gruesome sunglasses that distort everything,
and it is you who are forced every day
to look at life through those contaminated lenses
because you have chosen to keep them.

--Gary Zukav from The Seat Of The Soul --
 

5 comments:

  1. Just like my parents...marriage was until death do us part and you stayed together for the sake of the kids.
    If you had asked us once we were grown, I think we all would have said she should have left him.
    Not knowing what kind of life we would have had if she did ..it's easier to say that.
    She did leave him for a few weeks after we all were grown and had families.
    If I could..I would ask her if she was ever happy and if so how long it lasted.
    I never saw their love for each other.
    Only her heartache and tears. sigh!
    I did hear her say " I love you Henry " the day before she died and heard him reply that he loved her too.
    Who am I to question the WHY.
    Different strokes for different folks.
    She never got strong enough to leave and stay gone. sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    ReplyDelete
  2. working through forgiveness I have learned that its reward is a heavy burden taken off and sometimes a wonderful sweetness comes... Somewhat addictive to me... Forgiving my ex was one of the best things for me.. No there is still the same relationship there yet it does not effect me as before and that in itself is sheer beauty... blessings Mary... as always you teach me so much

    ReplyDelete
  3. ~first thank you so much for your words the last few days...it really is a unique gift we have found among our friends here...times are so very different...even from when i was growing up...your parents stuck together and as you said did what they thought was right...you took from all of that and walked away knowing you would not do such to yours when it came to be...you learned what you wanted and moved forward...i know the pain you have towards your ex is something you have carried and delt with for so long...enduring the minutes of anger and rage...one day...maybe one day...it will be banished...i don't know...forgiving is a difficult thing to do and accept...to move forward and not look back...but through all of it...you did become a beautiful strong wise soul and maybe it helped guide you to helping others...you experienced the raw and can relate...be understanding and empathetic...i struggles with the "whys" as i like to analize everything and i am learning and trying to accept that maybe i need not always know the answer...may your heart be at ease one day soon...much l♥ve and light always be with you shining bright~

    ReplyDelete
  4. You paid a high price for your wisdom, Mary, but now how wise you are! I'm sure you've helped many people over the years because of that hard-won wisdom.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mary- I don't know if there is anything I can add to all of these wonderful heartfelt comments. Your wisdom I do cherish and I know that you have helped far more with "the hand that you were dealt", than you would have, if it weren't for those ugly circumstances that brought you to be the beautiful, loving, and self confident woman that you are. Everything does happen for a reason, even if NEVER we understand the "WHY". Hugs to you my friend :)

    ReplyDelete