Today’s Forgiving Fridays: What is Really Important? :)

Posted on by Forgiving Connects

Happy #ForgivingFridays everyone! Yay! This is an opportunity for you to share about forgiveness & post about it ANY DAY this week! See guidelines below. ❤ You can post whatever inspires YOU to forgive and choose love.  Maybe it’s a poem, or a situation you’re struggling with, or a photo — or even a quote on forgiveness like one of this week’s contributors!, or you can share about travel like I did.

***This post is my contribution for The Daily Post’s Cloaked and Frank’s Challenge, Sand. Frank thanks for the inspiration to highlight the sands of time!***

Today’s Forgiving Fridays is What is Really Important?

I went on a two-week vacation to Spain and Portugal.  It was amazing.  The purpose was to bring Light and peace wherever we went.

I learned a lot about forgiveness by doing this.

One of the places we went was an old underground cemetery.  There were graves everywhere – at our feet on each side – I was surrounded!  As I walked, I saw a municipal worker renovating one of the tombstone faces.  This scene struck me so strongly, and I began to wonder what in life is really important.

What is Really Important Oct 12 2017

As I continued on the trip, I kept having experiences to guide me on what’s important.  For example, here’s a photo of a dove in a church designated for Mother Mary.  The beauty of this simple stained glass piece opened me to an awareness of peace.

What is Really Important Peace Oct 13 2017

All of this is helping me to ask myself, “What am I making more important than loving?”  We have only so much time on this planet, and the little details of “I’m right” and “She’s wrong” fade in importance when I consider my own cemetery.   All the judgments, the getting caught in my own mind – how much does that matter in the face of love?

There’s another way, one where I am choosing love over hate, compassion over blaming, and peace over conflict.  Love heals all, if only I listen.

On this trip, I opened up to love and forgave a lot, especially around my partner (I traveled with him!) I learned how to take responsibility for my upset with him and with others.  I also reached out to share my heart and had an amazing experience of connecting with my fellow travelers.

I didn’t always know how to forgive, I just let go and allowed love.

Forgiveness to me is a process of opening my heart, deciding to love, and speaking compassion and kindness.  The simple words “I forgive myself” can bring in great peace.  No matter what is going on outside of me, the forgiveness starts and ends with me. There is never a good enough reason to judge, withhold my loving.

THAT’S how I want to live.

What are you making more important than loving?  Do you have something you’d like to let go of?  This Forgiving Fridays, I invite you to forgive and let go, and to open to the immense gift that love has for you.  ❤

****

I am grateful for all of you who contribute to Forgiving Fridays.  I learn so much from you!  Here are the contributions while I was on vacation 🙂  :

DeBorah of Roaming Urban Gypsy shared a group of photos that illustrate the creativity of New York that inspired forgiveness and peace in me.

Etta of  Simply Etta D. contributed 3 awesome posts, all highlighting powerful ways to forgive and expand into who we truly are – here they are!  Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3

Stella of Giggles & Tales  wrote a lovely post that illustrates the presence of peace and how each of us is so important to create what we want in life.

Anne of Beauty By A Dutch Girl chose an exquisite quote on how peace starts inside each one of us with a decision to forgive – so vulnerable and creative.  Thank you so much. A first time contributor!

Xenia of Whippet Wisdom contributed a tanka (very cool poem) she wrote on love within our smiles. Gorgeous photo of her dogs to illustrate!

Pragalbha of Infinite Living wrote a beautiful poem on honoring the essence of who we are.  Her poetry is lovely.

And in case you missed it:

Nikki of the newly-restored A Kinder Way contributed a great post on how she realized how much she loves “A Kinder Way” and self-forgiveness and kindness. Way to go, Nikki.

****

I’ll end today with fun photos of me with fellow travelers, plus a poem by Hafiz on how MAYBE we can take life so seriously.  See below.

Have an amazing week! I love us all so much.

Love, Debbie

 Here are the guidelines of #ForgivingFridays:  

love is all there is hafiz love quote July 30 2016

  • Every day is Friday!  Do a post today or anytime this week.
  • Be creative – there’s LOTS of space for your expression! Write a poem, take a photo, post a quote, share your story …  what opens your heart?
  • Include #ForgivingFridays in your tags
  • Create a pingback link to this post so I can find you. 
  • Have fun – you are awesome!!  

 

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Here’s the Hafiz poem on life ❤ :

TRIPPING OVER JOY

What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.  

~Hafiz

84 thoughts on “Today’s Forgiving Fridays: What is Really Important? :)”

  1. Welcome back! Glad to hear that you had a fruitful vacation. I also had a revelation and some introspective moments at the Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn. I spent two hours there last Saturday.
    I have been going through a situation on my job that’s caused me to lose weight but I turned to God in prayers and began juicing. Sounds strange but helped me to cope.
    I have a Praise Report to share with you privately.

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  3. This post really resonated with me. I love this question, “What am I making more important than loving?” How easy it is for me to get off track with thoughts and forget to put love first. Forgiving my failures is my way back to centering on love. Sometimes I put my foot in my mouth and I wrote a poem about this for Forgiving Fridays. Firecracker Phrases https://flashlightbatteries.blog/2017/10/13/firecracker-phrases/
    Thank you Debbie for sharing your journey of forgiveness and creating a space to reflect. Sending love your way.

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    1. Oh Ali, I’m so glad that this post moved you! And that it gave you a safe space to reflect (so important ❤ ). I love that you are focusing on forgiveness through creativity. One thing you may consider is that you don't need to forgive your mistakes, rather you can forgive yourself for judging them as "bad" or "wrong". So it's the fact that we're judging in the first place that we can free ourselves from! Anyway, for your consideration, beautiful Ali. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your poem and thank you for contributing it for Forgiving Fridays!

      Sending you blessings of joy and peace and a lot of happiness this weekend. ~Debbie 🙂

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  4. Welcome back Debbie and so good to see you had an amazing vacation with so much there to inspire! I love the poetry of Hafiz and thank you for sharing his beautiful quote about the sun and his ‘Tripping over Joy’ poem here. Enjoy the rest of your day and have a wonderful weekend! ☺💖 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much, Xenia! Lovely to connect with you. I’m not surprised that you love Hafiz 🙂 Seems to be right up your alley. Hope you and Elvor and Pearl are having a beautiful weekend, and sending you much loving. And thanks again for contributing the tanka poem! Blessings and smiles, Debbie

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      1. Thank you Debbie 💜 In March of this year Carpe Diem Haiku Kai dedicated the entire month to Persian Poetry, including the poetry of Hafiz. We were all invited to create haiku and tanka inspired by these poets and we posted quite a few between us. Have a wonderful weekend and a great new week! ☺💖 xxx

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    1. Thank you, Kathy! It’s good to be back, and I really appreciate your caring and love. You are amazing!
      When I read your comment, I too took a deep breath and came present to how important it is to (a) be present & (b) to love! Thanks for that, Kathy. Have a gorgeous weekend, and ever so many blessings to you — Debbie ps: my spiritual mentor John-Roger wrote a great book called “Momentum: Letting love lead”. It really moved me.

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  6. Debbie, your vacation sounds like it was a complete journey of blessing! The concept of the sands of time running through our fingers now plays through my mind, as an inspiration for either a photo or a song!

    Thank you,

    Frank

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    1. Oh, Frank I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you for sharing – really touches my heart. And thank you again for your photo challenge. It is exquisite for me (and I love how many people are contributing these days). Many blessings, Debbie

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  8. WELCOME BACK!! Thanks for sharing your wonderful journey with us, sounds like your vacation was a life-changing experience. Thank you also for reminding us of what’s really important. xxx

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    1. Thank you Etta! And thank you again for all of your amazing contributions for Forgiving Fridays. It was a huge gift to come home to. 🙂 Hope you are doing really well. You are such a blessing. Happy weekend to you, Etta. Be in touch anytime! Love and blessings, Debbie

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  10. What a delight that you are back and you bring Hafiz with you! I certainly used your post to lighten the load that I put upon myself 🙂 “What am I making more important than loving?” truly!! I did take some ways of life too seriously haha. Lots of love and peace to you.

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    1. Oh Pragalbha, I’m so glad the post helped you lighten your load. It’s amazing what forgiveness and a simple question can do! And I’m reminded how practice is so valuable…. just put one foot in front of the other with an intention toward peace. Many blessings to you, Pragalbha, and thanks again for contributing to Forgiving Fridays. Your poems are valuable to me, and to my readers too! ~Debbie

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      1. Yes, and timely reminders that nudge us in the right directions in the form of posts like yours, help tremendously. It is not enough to ‘know’ this stuff when actually living it. Feeling supported with like-minded thinking helps the process.
        My pleasure to be a part of your great work. Lots of love!

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    1. Oh thank you so much!! I had an amazing vacation. 🙂 Looking forward to catching up on your awesome blog. A part of what helps me experience peace is humor – and your posts are so full of laughter! Blessings, hope you’re well. Debbie

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    1. Thank you!! I had a wonderful time. 🙂 I hope you are doing really well also — feel free to contribute to Forgiving Fridays anytime. Your travel posts bring in such beauty and appreciation of gratitude. Many blessings, and Happy Sunday! Debbie

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    1. Oh Bella I LOVE this! I just read your post on kindness, and it is considerate, caring, and full of love. I’m happy to share it for #ForgivingFridays.

      For some reason, when you link back to the post in WP reader, I don’t get a pingback on my blog post. Can you link to this one instead? This way, I’ll have it in my line up. ❤ https://forgivingconnects.com/2017/10/13/todays-forgiving-fridays-what-is-really-important

      Thank you Bella. Speaking kindness …. focusing on kindness…. receiving kindness …. is such a blessing of forgiveness.
      Love and Light,
      Debbie

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    2. Hi again, Bella! ❤ OK I'm going to contribute this for Forgiving Fridays in tomorrow's post! Not sure what happened with the pingback link. Thank you again for the gorgeous meditation and tips on being kind. Truly beautiful. 🙂 Happy Forgiving Fridays. Love, Debbie

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  26. It’s lovely to see this new blogpost from you after a while, Debbie. Thank you so much for mentioning me here, I had a great time writing my blogpost about peace and forgiveness! I hope you had an amazing trip to my continent, Europe, and I really love the pictures you included in the end! Have a wonderful week! Love, Anne

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    1. I’m so glad that you enjoyed blogging about peace and forgiveness – yay Anne! Your comments put a smile on my face. 🙂 You are welcome to contribute to Forgiving Fridays anytime you want to!!!

      I had a lovely trip to Spain and Portugal and particularly appreciate the value of loving relationships. Thank you, thank you for being on my blog. So grateful and blessed to know you.
      PEACE!!!
      Debbie ❤
      ps – do you write poetry? I bet you'd be great at it. You could start if not! (I just started myself a few years ago)

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  27. Welcome back, Debbie! It looks like you had a wonderful getaway and have come back well rested (& inspired!)! I will be consciously working on being open to love…your thoughts on who might be right or wrong resonated with me…we often get caught up in this cycle and love is the key to breaking free from it! Thank you for sharing your words and the poetry of Hafiz!

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    1. Kim, I am so glad to hear that! Consciously setting an intention to be open to love is SO powerful. You are amazing. I appreciate how much you care about forgiveness, and loving. ❤ And very glad you enjoyed Hafiz' poetry. He's amazing, one of my very favorites. Have a beautiful week, and blessings to you — Debbie

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    2. Kim I got it! Exquisite poem….. reminds me of the soothing voice of self-forgiveness. You are quite talented, and thanks so much for inspiring me with your post. I am excited – and honored – to share it for Forgiving Fridays. Much, much loving ❤ Debbie

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  33. Welcome back, Debbie!

    Glad to see you here again bubbling with life as always. I’m happy you had a good vacation and an amazing time in your travels. It’s so inspiring to read your post and the beautiful poem by Hafiz. Thank you for sharing them. 🙂

    Here is my entry for this week. It’s a poem which talks about the infallible word of God. Hope you’d enjoy it.

    Stay blessed and big hugs to you. 🙂

    https://simpledimplesite.blog/2017/10/14/the-infallible-word/

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    1. Stella, thank you! I’m so touched by your comments. ❤ Big hugs to you!

      I love love love your poem. It touched me deeply. Funny, I participate in a peace prayer every day, and your poem reminds me of the sacred honor of doing it. Thank you so much for that, and for your contribution. Yay!

      Have a beautiful weekend, and happy almost Forgiving Fridays, Stella!
      Debbie

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      1. You’re most welcome. I really love doing this. Who wouldn’t anyway? With your profound posts and the warm ambience here, it’s always a great feeling to post an entry. And you are awesome with your spirit of appreciations. Thank you so much for all you do to make humanity better. Have a fabulous weekend and blessings to you. ❤❤🌷

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  35. So exciting to hear about your trip Debbie!! I hope we get to see more photos of your time there. And I totally agree with you about defining what is more important so we can shape our lives– living for what is real and true and eternal. Loving God and loving people. wonderful post! hugs hugs!

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    1. Thank you, Rhonda! Love how you distilled what I wrote with “Loving God and loving people” ❤ So great. You are a bright Light on my blog. Hugs to you! xo Debbie ps – when I took that photo of the worker renovating, I knew I was going to use it for my blog. Just didn't know how yet. Funny how God works, isn't it?

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