WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

Years ago Jackie Deshannon popularized LOVE in her song, “What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet, Love”. The need for love has only increased in these uncertain times. If you are tempted to withhold it, do not. It is still the single most powerful antidote to any human issue, any problem, illness, dispute … even war. Love is a gift from God and one which we are given freely so that we may circulate it freely with others … not just for some, but for everyone. Be brave, love beyond reason. Love beyond fear. Love beyond humanly imposed boundaries. Be a pioneer in a brave new world where LOVE takes its rightful place. You will be a more content and peace-filled person for doing so.

FORGIVENESS

Just as love is a powerful force in our lives, forgiveness has its place right next to love: forgiveness of self, forgiveness of others … be they loved ones or total strangers. FORGIVE means to GIVE FOR: to give love and understanding in the place of anger … even if, especially if, we feel we were the one wronged. For in withholding forgiveness from another, we also withhold it from ourselves. Years ago I read these words somewhere, and they are burned in my memory: “The nine most important words in the English language are:

I WAS WRONG

I AM  SORRY

PLEASE FORGIVE ME”

No one was ever poisoned by speaking sincere words of forgiveness to another, but we do indeed poison our hearts, our minds, our spirits when we make the choice not to forgive. Choose to forgive, whether spoken aloud or in your heart or in your prayers. Forgiveness goes beyond the grave. It frees us from bondage to our past, to our own mistakes, to our own acts of unkindness. Be a pioneer of forgiveness.