“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it” -Mark Twain

While reading The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy I came across a prayer about forgiveness that is quite powerful: Quiet your mind, relax and let go. Then affirm: “I fully and freely forgive (mention the name of the offender) I release him spiritually and mentally. I completely forgive everything connected with the matter in question. I am free and he/she is free. It is a marvelous feeling. It is a day of general amnesty. I release anybody and everybody who has ever hurt me, and I wish for each and every one health, happiness, peace and the blessings of life. I do this freely, joyously, and lovingly. And whenever I think of the person or persons’ who hurt me I say, ‘I have released you and all the blessings of life are yours.’ I am free and they are free. It is wonderful!”

Guess what? You only have to pray this prayer of forgiveness once. Whenever the person, or the particular hurt happens to enter your mind, wish the deliquent well and say, “Peace be to you.” Do this as often as it enters your mind. You will find that after a few days the person or particular experience will return less and less often, until it fades into nothingness.

Dr. Murphy also mentions an acid test for forgiveness which I absolutely love. You can test whether or not you have truly forgiven someone. If you should hear something wonderful about the person you have forgiven and you sizzled at hearing the news then the seeds of hatred are still in your subconscious mind, playing havoc with you.

He gives the analogy of the memory of a tooth ache a year ago. You remember the pain but you do not feel it anymore? That is the test of true forgiveness. You may have memory of the hurt but you do not have the sting or hurt anymore.

This is the acid test of true forgiveness and you must meet it psychologically and spiritually or you will just be deceiving yourself and not practicing the true art of forgiveness.

Can your forgiveness stand this acid test? If not pray the prayer and practice the peace be with you thought process. It works, I know, I have put it to the test with ones who have taken away the most precious thing in the world to me. My involvement with my children’s childhood days & memories. I can forgive that and at this very moment wish the father of my children and the woman who worked the wrongs with him health, happiness, peace, and the blessings of life. And when I hear good things happening to them I am deeply happy for them.

I smell that oh so fragrent violet that Mark Twain was talking about can you?

-Kathie