How do we manage it and how do we know?

What helps people from the edge of despair?

And how do they begin to rebuild, love and care?

There are some who have much to forgive,

They have lost loved ones – and often too, their reason to live…

They have been tortured until there is nothing more to give.

Yet, still they are able to forgive…

Some of us are fortunate to have less to forgive

Yet however severe our suffering, we all need to learn and remember to forgive.

Forgive those who have held us back,

Forgive those with the will to attack

The parents and friends who didn’t know How to express love for it to show.

However deep the well

It is never too late to tell

That the time to forgive is now

You don’t even need to know how.

Simply ask your heart, your God, your own inner self;

To forgive all who have wronged you,

And all you have wronged too.

For sometimes, we need to stop punishing

Not only others but also to cease admonishing

Ourselves…

None of us are perfect – and,

So let us remember the questions…

Forgiveness…

Where does it come from? And where does it go?

How do we manage it and how do we know?

What helps people from the edge of despair?

And how do they begin to rebuild, love and care?

It comes from within…

It goes away to a place deep within us when we start to hate.

We manage it, by our desire to have peace;

In our hearts, our minds and our world.

Forgiveness helps us from the edge of despair,

Focuses us on others and helps us to re-care.

It reminds us – we are all unique souls on our own journeys,

If someone has done wrong, compassion can heal us – if not them too

Forgiving ourselves – is our gift – to the world of peace – to me and you…

© Karen Szulakowska, June 2010
Written for UPF peace and reconciliation day