Within each of our hearts is a yearning for a connection to something greater than ourselves.
A desire for peace, love, happiness, good health, abundance and harmony in our relationships.
A sense of heaven on earth.
The Source of this yearning is God. God is our heavenly Father who created everything and everyone. Like all parents he/she loves us no matter our transgressions. He/She forgives us and whispers in our ears and hearts how and why to redirect our thoughts and actions. It is up to each of us whether we listen to the Divine advice.
Luke 6:27-31 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
If God can see the best in us ALWAYS, and in every circumstance, shouldn’t we follow this example? Rather than despising certain people, view them as brothers and sisters, equal children of God. Treat them as you would treat your own children with love, compassion, forgiveness, and lend a helping hand. You will know in your heart that you are following God’s lead.
Let go of the negative pull of dislike, hate, judgement or revenge. These thoughts and actions are hurting you as much as they are the people you are directing them towards.
Take a moment and reflect on what qualities are residing in your own heart. Are they qualities that will enhance your connection to God or are they ones that are blocking your path? What qualities are causing stumbling blocks?
There is no better place to practice love and forgiveness than in the home. The effects on the people around you will be stunning.
“If at home we cannot answer kindly, it will be better not to answer at all. It is far better for an angry thought to die unexpressed than for it to kill the good in the life of the speaker and retard the development of the one to whom it is addressed”.
God knows the heart of everyone. Listen to the Voice within. Examine your heart, recognize opportunities to forgive others. Begin with forgiving yourself, then a family member, then a person beyond your family. Keep going. You don’t have to have an ongoing relationship with the person you forgive but it will release you from the bondage, fuel your inner lamp and shine light on the new stepping stones of your Divine path.
With each act of forgiveness, kindness and gentleness you will feel a sense of spaciousness and freedom within. Your Way will become clearer. You may just experience heaven on earth. What a blissful thought!
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Note: The quote from the bible is indicated by the passage number. The segment in quotation marks is an extract from a book compiled by the Association for Research and Enlightenment – “A Search for God, Book 1”.
