A friend gave me this poem the other day. It came from a Dear Abby column, written by Jeanne Phillips:
Decide to forgive
for resentment is negative,
resentment diminishes and devours the self.
Be the first to forgive,
to smile and to take the first step
and you will see happiness bloom
on the face of your human brother or sister.
Be always the first
Do not wait for others to forgive
for by forgiving
You become the master of fate,
the fashioner of life,
the doer of miracles.
To forgive is the highest,
most beautiful form of love.
In return you will receive
untold peace and happiness.
And here is the program for achieving
a truly forgiving heart:
SUNDAY: Forgive yourself.
MONDAY: Forgive your family.
TUESDAY: Forgive your friends and associates.
WEDNESDAY: Forgive across economic lines within your nation.
THURSDAY: Forgive across cultural lines within your nation.
FRIDAY: Forgive across political lines within you own nation.
SATURDAY: Forgive other nations.
Only the brave know how to forgive. A coward never forgives. It is not in his nature.