For Giving
Forgiveness is not
forgetting the past,
but for getting past
the pretending
that denies it occurred,
that hides that it hurts—
so the wounds don’t seep
and the thoughts don’t keep
me awake again.
Forgiveness is not
forgoing the past,
but for going past
the plotting
that demands my revenge,
that refuses amends—
so my fist can ease
and my soul can breathe
deep and long again.
Forgiveness is not
forsaking the past
but—for my sake—breaking past
the pain
that holds me in chains
that stifles my dreams—
so I can find my voice
and my heart makes a choice
to live again.
Forgiveness is not just
forgiving the past,
but for giving the past
a chance to change me—
not to define me,
but fully refine me–
no longer held down,
but freely unbound
to love again.
Author’s Notes:
We have different reactions to our painful pasts — denying it, avenging it, or letting it cripple us.
But a painful past also has the power to refine us. It can give us contrast to help us define who we want to be, to refuse to repeat the past.
Each time my scars twinge with pain, this poem reminds me of the direction I’ve chosen. And I choose again.
