Today’s Forgiving Fridays – Gratitude, a Whole New Take on Forgiveness!

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 photo or inspiring quote, or a poem, or you can share about a situation you’re struggling with and what you did about it like I did.

***This post is my contribution for The Daily Post’s Orange and Frank’s Challenge, Sky. Frank thanks for the inspiration to open to the love that lights up the sky!***

Today’s Forgiving Fridays is Gratitude, A Whole New Take on Forgiveness. ❤

Last night, I was really struggling.  I was disappointed in what someone did, and I didn’t act really well.  I judged myself so much.  So much so that I had trouble sitting with it inside of me.

What I eventually came to was an intention I set that very morning —  I am grateful for the opportunity to forgive.  It soothed me, and I was reminded how the very act of forgiveness is the greatest act of love.  So no matter what the specifics are, just the fact that I am showing up for myself with a willingness to forgive and to love that little one in me – wow, that lights up the whole sky.

 

Love is really what it’s all about.  Ulli of Urban Liaisons sent me a wonderful photo to use in a Forgiving Fridays.  It’s a projection of children’s drawings of hearts projected on Humboldt University in Berlin for the last evening of the Festival of Lights.  Kids know a lot, don’t they?

Gratitude A Whole New Take on Forgiveness Oct 27 2017

 

I was so inspired that I did a video this morning!!  I talked about this gift of gratitude & how important it is to just do our very best to show up again and again and to love ourselves and each other with forgiveness – and to say “I love you” 🙂 :

****

I am grateful for all of you who contribute to Forgiving Fridays.  I learn so much from you!  Here are this week’s contributions:

Etta of  Simply Etta D. gave us wonderful tips for staying present in our joy and appreciating the hilarity of life!

DeBorah of Roaming Urban Gypsy shared magnificent artwork from a great Toronto artist that illustrate how creativity can open our hearts and bring in forgiveness, caring and compassion.

Lorelle of A Mindful Traveller wrote about meeting up with two fellow bloggers – with a great photo illustrating the power of loving connection!  Another great example of being grateful for the little things in life.  (such a key to forgive)

Pragalbha of Infinite Living wrote an exquisite poem on opening to unconditional loving, caring, and kindness – it’s so beautiful.

Stella of Giggles & Tales  wrote an exquisite poem on the sacred act of loving another person and how giving can open us to the divine in life.

Xenia of Whippet Wisdom contributed a tanka (very cool poem) she wrote on being renewed with love every moment. Plus an amazing photo of her dogs to illustrate!

Gabrielle of Bone & Silver shared a profound post where she explored the true essence of love in response to an argument with her partner.  I learned a lot.

And a great blog post I found on the depth of love:

Trisha of Feeling Connection wrote a beautiful poem on her love for her Beloved Kiwi who passed into Spirit – such a courageous sharing. ❤

****

Today when I woke up, I wrote a poem.  Writing this poem helped me to soothe myself even more, and to experience forgiveness in a whole new way – that it is a gift of life.  Life is funny, it’s up, it’s down, and there will always be another opportunity to forgive.  So we can just have fun with it all.  It’s a gift.  See below.

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

Love, Debbie

 

Here are the guidelines of #ForgivingFridays:  

  • 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!!  

 

Here’s the poem I wrote this morning on gratitude & forgiveness ❤ :

“Grateful for Home”

When I go out of balance

Oh does it ever stop

+ here I am, tick tock,

Tick tock, the clock

never stops. But

I do.

Home.

Sigh. The alone-ness,

in the ticking of

the time machine,

it is not the alive-nes,

(where is that s, ah,

see Beloved, you don’t

need to

follow the letter of the

LAW).

The aliveness is in the

sweet sound of

laughter that comes

with, “Thank you

for this life.” The

H-O-M-E in the

breath, it is the

home of life.

Be true

to the caring

of the O2, it

will – every

step of the way –

bubble in joy

of home, love.

-Deborah

63 thoughts on “Today’s Forgiving Fridays – Gratitude, a Whole New Take on Forgiveness!”

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    1. They do, don’t they Anne! It was pretty revelatory for me to realize how grateful I am just for the act of forgiveness, and the laughter that can accompany the details of this life! 🙂 So glad this post was a good reminder for you. I love you!

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  4. Great post and video. I like what you said grateful for the opportunity for forgiving and judging.

    The more we forgive and break the habit of judgement and create the habit jyst observing and not reacting .. the free-er we become and less energy is wasted. Debbie i shared a meditation on my blog ..creating a hero .. listen to it you might like it. Ps i share weekly meditations on wednesday..

    Hugs bella

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    1. Hi Bella, thank you! I’m so glad that this post was helpful for you. To me, forgiveness is building a new track inside – one based on neutrality, compassion, and kindness. I did a Practical Treatise (for my doctoral dissertation) where I took a simple act each day to come present to my inner loving and leave the rest to Spirit. It was self-forgiveness, letting go, and gratitude!

      Have a wonderful week, Bella. Feel free to share with me any time you want to – I love your expression. ❤ Blessings, Debbie

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  5. Hi Debbie, lovely post, as ever.
    I’ve tried to work out how to ‘do a ping back’, but I can’t do it!? I even looked in WordPress Support. I read your info several times, but I don’t understand : (
    Should I have mentioned your blog in the original post? (I did it in quite a rush before work). I don’t want to re-blog it.
    I updated & tagged my post about my relationship argument with #ForgivingFridays after your comment, and here’s the link: https://boneandsilver.com/2017/10/25/bumpy/
    Sorry to be a bit new to all this pingback business!
    Don’t stress about this if you’re busy; you and I both know I practised forgiveness, and that’s all that matters hey? Have a relaxing weekend, love G

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    1. Hi Gabrielle! I added your post! Definitely not too busy – it fits in perfectly with my blog this week, and I LOVE what you wrote.

      It would be nice if you’re ok to edit your post and mention Forgiving Fridays – nice way to inspire others to forgive. Also, when you do that, perhaps you can try the pingback again? (It helps so that I don’t miss posts ❤ )

      So say you add a sentence about Forgiving Fridays. Then, you highlight a part of the sentence (e.g., Forgiving Fridays) & you click on the icon at the top that looks like a link or a chain. There's a space for you to add the link of my blog. Voila!

      Here's the link (why don't you add this week's & then I'll reshare this blog again next Friday, unless you want to do another one): https://forgivingconnects.com/2017/10/27/todays-forgiving-fridays-gratitude-a-whole-new-take-on-forgiveness/

      So funny. I really appreciate you, Gabrielle. Great to connect with you.

      Have a lovely weekend – oh and I so acknowledge you for practicing forgiveness. It inspires me.
      Blessings, Debbie xo

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    1. Hi Xenia – you are so welcome! I’m really glad that you liked my poem and Hafiz quote. I’m looking at doing poetry as a way to contribute to my health and well-being spiritually. Can you, Pearl and Elvor keep this in the Light for me? I had a wonderful weekend – I hope you did too, Xenia. And have a joy-filled week full of love and great runs and pets with your gorgeous dogs! Blessings, Debbie

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      1. Thank you Debbie, we had an amazing weekend! 🌞 We will be happy to keep this in the light for you and wish you a lot of joy writing poetry to contribute to your health and wellbeing 😇💖 xxx

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    1. Oh Pragalbha, I am so glad. The gratitude of forgiveness soothed me as well, so I really relate to what you’re saying!

      Thank you again for a gorgeous poem. It touches my heart, truly. Blessings to you!! May peace enfold you every step of the way.

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    1. Thank you! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. 🙂 Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures with your family (including your newest dog addition he he) Blessings – you brightened my day with your comments. Debbie

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  9. Pingback: Bumpy | bone&silver

    1. Oh, Jennie. Thank you for thanking me! 🙂 So glad you are here and enjoyed this. Hope you are doing wonderfully! Have a wonderful week ahead and blessings to you and your kids. Your blog is so uplifting — your stories of your kids inspire me! ❤ Debbie

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  12. Life is funny Deb. Sometimes it throws us some real tests, but it so important, though sometimes difficult, to reach out to forgive and let go in order to move on. I’m glad you took that path this week.
    Thank you again for your inclusion of my post and I hope you have a lovely and peaceful weekend. Xx

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    1. Lorelle, thank you! Life is such an opportunity to learn how to let go, to love, and to move on. I’m still working on it 🙂 and this blog helped me experience deeply the blessing of each act of kindness when I forgive.

      So glad you’re here & that you contribute to Forgiving Fridays. It’s a privilege to highlight your posts. Thank you! Blessings for a wonderful week and love — Debbie

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  13. Great post as always, Debbie. Only if we could live like an innocent child, only if we could assume no right but be grateful for every moment, that we could make peace with ourselves. Thank you for your post again. Miriam

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    1. Oh Miriam, thank you! This is a beautiful comment. 🙂 You are so wise and full of compassion.
      My spiritual teacher J-R has said if we want to know more of Soul, to see through the eyes and hear through the ears of gratitude. This so resonates with my approach on life. Blessings to you Miriam, and big hugs – Debbie

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      1. Thank you so much, Debbie! I just flew up to Portland to spend 2 weeks helping my daughter. The Daily Prompt for yesterday (?) was gratitude. I wrote a poem on the plane and am going to post it soon. I could link it to your Forgiving Connection. Love, Miriam

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  14. I think we are taught in society to judge and we do it without even realizing sometimes. Thank God for forgiveness and healing ourselves in the process. I just read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz….it is amazing! It is going to aid me in my path including forgiving others. Thanks for this honest and lovely post!❤️🌈

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    1. Mary, you said it! There’s a lot of focus on judgment in the world, and also so many acts of kindness. I love the kindness that you bring with your blog (and your comments on mine), and good for you for reading The Four Agreements – what an amazing book! We read it in a Spiritual Psychology program I did a few years back. Blessings to you Mary! 🙂 So glad you’re here. Love, Debbie

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      1. I’m going to post the Four Agreements on my fridge to remind myself. Thank you for your sweet comments and I feel that you bring happiness and joy to the blogging world and you’re making a difference!Please keep sharing your inspirational posts on forgiveness! Blessings to you.💗😉

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      2. I will, Mary!! Thank you. 🙂 (And what a great idea to post the Four Agreements on your fridge.)

        You are welcome to contribute to Forgiving Fridays anytime, Mary. e.g., a post on what the Four Agreements mean to you would be awesome! Anyway, if it calls to you, go for it! Blessings to you too. 🙂 🙂 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh Anne, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed my poem. 🙂 I just re-read it, and it reminded me how life (and love <3) can be really fun!

      Thank you for being here. You're a gift to my blog & I'm super grateful that we found each other on wordpress. Feel free to contribute to Forgiving Fridays anytime! Your quote on peace was magnificent – and I learned a lot.

      Love and blessings — Debbie

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    1. You got it, Trish! Thank YOU for reading and for your beautiful posts. Feel free to contribute anytime – you can use the theme of gratitude this week, or another focus on forgiveness that opens your heart. 🙂 (e.g., freedom, poetry, etc) Many blessings, Debbie

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    1. Hi beautiful Lacey! Oh I’m so glad that you liked Ulli’s photo – I agree, it was perfect for this post and so touching! Kids really have a beautiful, simple way of sharing about what’s important, don’t they?

      Sorry you couldn’t watch the video. You can always try going to my Facebook page if you want to!

      Have a beautiful week, Lacey. Big smiles and hugs to you and your Beloved family. You are great!!!
      Debbie

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    1. Oh Miriam, this is a perfect post for Forgiving Fridays. As I wrote in your blog post, I am so touched by your poem, by your compassion, and your caring. Thank you for being a ray of sunshine on my blog! Sending you blessings, and I’ll add this poem to the list for this week’s Forgiving Fridays. Much blessings, and I love you – Debbie

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  22. Hello dear Debbie!
    It’s a lovely post that highlights the thought that we are a constant work in progress. That we need little reminders daily to be kind to ourselves and pick us up on the times we are expecting too much of us or indeed others.
    It was lovely to see you again and in the warm sunshine too.
    Take care and I forgive myself for thinking others should act or say what I would in a situation. They are not me and I’m not them..in their shoes.

    Thank you again dear Debbie. Hugs from Di 🙋🏻💕💕

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    1. You are so welcome, Di! Really glad this post was valuable to you, and I LOVE your forgiveness. ❤ Be gentle and caring to yourself … and thank you for reminding me to do that again this moment. I love that and really appreciate YOU. Blessings, and so much Light and joy in your new home. Debbie ❤

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      1. Thank you so much dear Debbie. I really appreciate your kind reply.
        I wish you the same light and love in your new home too 🙋🏻💕💕🌈

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    1. So love this Xenia!! I commented on the blog … your haiku opened me to incredible joy and renewal through letting go. Thank you — I’ll contribute this tomorrow for Forgiving Fridays. And of course, it goes without saying that Elvor and Pearl are GORGEOUS 🙂 🙂 🙂 Much love to you all – Debbie

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      1. Thank you so much for your kind words Debbie and it is lovely to hear how the haiku opened you to joy and renewal in such a wonderful way. It is a pleasure to be part of this where everyone contributes with love ☺💖 xxx

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  27. I had to reinstill in myself recently that other people’s attitude towards me is reflective of them and not me. We find it so easy to find faults in ourselves when people don’t treat us in the way they should. But your post is a wonderful reminder that we are all a work in progress 😉 Always love reading your poetry and watching your inspirational videos. Love and light to you Debbie ❤

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    1. Aww Etta I am so glad this post was valuable for you …. my poems and videos (and blog) is an expression of love. 🙂 🙂 Hope you are having a beautiful week. I appreciate you very much, as well as your wisdom in contributions to Forgiving Fridays. You are amazing!! Love and blessings, Debbie

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    1. Oh Rhonda, thank you! I am grateful for you too. 🙂 My spiritual mentor has said that if we want to know more of Soul, to see through the eyes and hear through the ears of gratitude. That really stays with me and is a guiding Light for my life. So glad you’re here. Blessings, Debbie

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