Today is my Birthday. Since August 26th is also the birthday of the late Mother Theresa, each year I’m prompted to reexamine my life ~ making determinations for the coming year and trying to rid my heart of residual grudges.
And every year I have trouble putting the past behind me and I can’t seem to find a single, positive thing to say about people who have hurt me. Over the years friends and colleagues have shared their rituals with me. What I’ve finally decided works best is an amalgam of several of those remedies.
Take a small jar ~ Write the names of those who have hurt you in green ink on white paper and fold the paper to fit into the jar.
Then add enough Honey to cover the paper. Put the lid on the jar and place it in your kitchen. For nine consecutive days, light a small white candle and place it on top of the sealed jar. Allow the candle to burn for a few minutes while you visualize your whole situation sweetening.
After the ninth day the candle should be fully burned (if it burns out earlier, just replace it with a fresh one until the nine days are done). Then place the jar in a paper bag and dispose of it somewhere outside your house.
I won’t say that you’ll want to kiss and make up, but at the very least you should be able to walk away leaving all hostility behind.
It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
~ George Eliot
Happy Birthday Mary!!!
My birthday was the 23rd– the big 5-0! Man where does the time go?
A belated happy birthday, Mary. I think rituals of forgiveness are essential. Just recently I copied this very short phrase from a book I was reading: “We all disappoint eventually.” I thought it wise.
Also loved your closing thought from George Eliot. Spoken like a true woman who knows her own heart.