Article June 19, 1989 Issue

Forgiving and forgetting

When we're tempted to return an unkindness, we can turn to God instead. His thoughts always bring the reality of Love's creation into view.

Mary Barnes

We all have had times when, as a result of being badly treated, we have had to decide whether we were going to respond in kind or strive to love and forgive. I had such an opportunity with the following experience.

Unexpectedly one morning I received from a friend a letter that was so unkind and unjust that I felt completely stunned. I went to a room where I knew I would be uninterrupted and felt I must stay there until I had done the needed praying about the situation, just as I would have done had I experienced a bodily injury. I knew this prayer would make all the difference, since God, divine Love, always gives us the healing thoughts we need when we turn to Him unreservedly for help.

After the initial shock I felt tempted to reread the letter, but I could see that this was a devilish thought to which I must not succumb, as it would have tended to imprint the cruel aspersions more deeply in thought. The first need, I knew, was to separate the injustice from the true sense of my friend as the child of God, the forever perfect expression of divine Love. God, divine Mind, was as much my friend's Mind as He was mine, and Mind most certainly includes no thoughts that could prompt unjust or unkind behavior. In fact, injustice has nothing to do with God, Mind, Love, for God is wholly just and loving. And it is God's allness that makes injustice ultimately powerless and harmless.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Be comforted—be strengthened