The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

I think it was my 13th birthday. The same day every year. All day I waited for a phone call from the one person that would make that day the best day of my life. That day went and I never received the phone call from my dad that kept me near the phone. My heart was broken. All I could think of was that he had forgotten about me. He had forgotten about his “hun girl.” The following day he called stating that he thought that day was the 8th and that he didn’t mean to miss it. I remember being angry at my dad for a while because of it.

Now, I can’t say whether my dad was telling me the truth or not. It could have been an honest mistake because I do the same thing. On important days I make sure now that it is programmed into my phone with a week’s worth of reminders. If I didn’t do it that way, I would never remember. I was angry at my dad for not remembering and I remember how distraught I was because of it. I knew that I had to forgive him or become resentful. So, I forgave my dad.

I know that’s a really poor example but I want to tell you that forgiveness, no matter what you are forgiving, isn’t easy to do. It’s really hard to forgive someone who has hurt you. Usually, the people you love and cherish are the ones that can hurt you so forgiving them hurts because you feel they should have known better. Well, I’m here to tell you forgiveness is for the strong. It is a sign of strength that you can forgive someone, or even yourself, and move on. Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting what has happened. As you can see in my example its hard to forget. But, you learn from it. Forgiveness allows you to warm your heart, change the way you go about your life. Most of all, it helps change and warm the heart of the world.

This holiday season don’t be angry at your mom who years ago told you to get out of her house because you were a rebel and you were breaking her heart. This holiday season don’t be angry at your dad for breaking your heart and never accepting you for who you are. This holiday season don’t be angry because you are feel you caused the loss of your son or daughter. This holiday season forgive your loved ones. Forgive yourself. You want to influence and change the world? Start with forgiveness this holiday season.