Friendships and Forgiveness

We often hurt those we love the most.

It might be intentional, but most often it is not.

People often hurt others because they hurt. It can be a cry for attention. Who knows? 

In many ways, it doesn't matter...

I saw this quote by the poet David Whyte yesterday, and it got me thinking...

All friendships of any length
are based on a continued,
mutual forgiveness.

Maybe it is not possible to never hurt or offend a loved one. And yet we all feel terrible after we do so...

But here's the thing: We need to forgive or ask for forgiveness, again and again and again.

How often do we have to do so? The Christian scriptures say we should forgive seventy times seven times. In other words, as often as it takes. There is no finite number that is prescribed..

So today, if there is someone you need to forgive - or someone's forgiveness that you need to request for your own well-being, why not reach out to that person? If it's someone that needs your forgiveness, perhaps they are too ashamed to ask. I know I've felt that way at times. So maybe reaching out to break the ice might be what is ineeded at the moment.

There used to be a telephone commercial a long time ago that suggested that we:

Reach out and touch someone.

Today is as good a day as any. 

​Why not?