One of my teachers had each of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. <br />For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life, we were told to choose a potato, <br />write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. <br />Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy. <br />We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, <br />putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work. <br />The hassle of lugging this around with us <br />made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually, <br />and how we had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget, <br />and keep leaving it in embarrassing places. <br />Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime. <br />This was a great metaphor for the price we pay <br />for keeping our pain and heavy negativity! <br />Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, <br />and while that's true...it clearly is also a gift for ourselves! <br />So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself... <br />Isn't MY bag heavy enough?<br /><br />Tafadzwa Mhondiwa Mugari<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/forgiveness-a-very-good-understanding-of-forgiveness/
