I was driving to work one morning, thanking God for all my blessings, naming each person, one after another, giving thanks for all those positive, caring, loving people who have walked through my life. Out of the blue, I began reciting the names of those not so positive, the ones who left me sad and hurt. I couldn’t believe it! I was saying thanks for those who left me feeling offended and disillusioned about them, life, and sometimes myself.
I grinned in astonishment. I really have forgiven them the hurt I felt I endured at their expense. I have arrived! It’s been written that those who bring the greatest challenges into our lives also bring the greatest growth and are indeed our best teachers. Up to that moment, those were mere words, proverbs, and sayings. I hadn’t “owned” them. Now, I see they’re true!
While I have easily loved those people who came into my life to share times of happiness, peace, harmony and love, those who presented themselves as my adversaries were also making contributions in my life, even if it didn’t look that way at the time. How could I see their backhanded contributions? I was caught up in the circumstances and their dynamics, and not strong enough to recognize the real issues and value in what was being presented in the experience for me.
A little wiser, I see those challenges I faced, have forgiven any transgressions against me, and recognize the blessing in having the experiences and people I needed for my higher growth and good. Thank you, God.