Have you ever been hurt or let down by someone you deeply care about? We’ve all been there, and that’s exactly what today’s Front-Row Friday is all about—forgiveness and maybe even reconciliation.
Last week, I had the honor of keynoting a Catholic singles conference. During the event, I asked everyone to assess where they’re sitting in the different “chairs” of their life—their work chair, their health chair, their friendship chair, etc. Were they sitting in the balcony, general admission or the Front-Row? When we got to the relationship chair, I adapted what I would normally say about assessing their relationship with their significant other. Knowing that they were all single, I asked them to think about the most significant relationship in their life right now. And is there an opportunity for forgiveness? Is there an opportunity for reconciliation?
For today’s Front-Row Friday message, is there someone you need to forgive? Maybe it’s someone who caused you pain, disappointed you, or even broke your trust. Forgiveness isn’t about excusing their behavior. It’s about setting yourself free from the burden of carrying that pain around.
Forgiveness can take many forms:
- Face-to-Face: Sit down with the person and have an honest conversation.
- Write It Down: Put your thoughts and forgiveness into a letter or note.
- Pick Up the Phone: Sometimes, a simple phone call can be incredibly powerful.
- Forgive in Your Heart: This is where we should all start, especially if the person we want to forgive is no longer of this world. It’s never too late to forgive someone and let go of the pain or grudge.
Holding onto a grudge is like locking someone in a prison for what they did to you, and you stand guard to make sure they are punished. But what you don’t realize is that they’ve snuck out a back door, so who really is in prison? Only you hold the key to the cage or prison you put yourself in.
Finally, when you think about the most significant relationships you have, don’t forget the one with yourself. Is there something in your past that you’re ashamed of or something you’ve been beating yourself up over? Maybe it’s time to start with forgiving the person you see in the mirror.
Thank you for joining me on this Front-Row journey. Take a moment today to think about the relationships in your life and consider how forgiveness can bring you the freedom you deserve. Let go, and feel the weight lift off your shoulders. That is living a front-row life.
Your Head Usher,
Marilyn
