Forgiveness... What's it Cost?

Once again I am hit in the gut with expectations not being met. I'm hit in the gut but this time with a smile and praises for work well done. I'm not only hit once but twice this week by the same person.

A dear friend shared with me months back the greatest quality he observed in me was my ability to forgive.

I personally believe in order to be forgiven you must forgive. When someone does me wrong, it's not my place to get revenge or even with them. I turn it over to Him and let him deal with it in his time. Forgiveness is giving up the right to get even. Sometimes that's incredibly hard. I was once again tested this past week with it again. I'm asking myself, how many times do you forgive the same person before you put major distance between you and them? (please feel free offer your recommendations in the comments section below)

The amazing thing is forgiveness does more for me than it does with the one being forgiven. I'm also praying my heart doesn't grow cold or harden to the one I've forgiven. It's amazing how quickly trust can be broken down. Forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean to me that I continue trusting the person in the same way I have.

What's it cost me if I forgive? What's it cost me if I don't forgive? What's it cost others if I forgive or don't forgive?

What's It All Mean?

What's it mean;

• when you trust someone and they betray that trust?
• when you love someone whole heartedly but it's not returned?
• when you show interest in someone and they don't show it back?
• when you extend kindness to another and it's rejected?
• when someone does you wrong and you don't want to forgive them?
• when someone does you wrong and you keep forgiving them?
• when someone takes your faith and makes fun of it?
• when someone uses your faith as the butt of jokes?
• when someone is a friend only when it's convienent for them?
• when your friendships turn in a different direction?
• when someone's your friend as long as you're seeing it their way?
• when someone's your friend only to gain from you?
• when someone's your friend only because of who they can meet through you?
• when someone acts like your friend but isn't remotely interested in being a friend?
• when someone's actions don't match their words?
• when someone says they value something and then acts against it?
• when someone kicks you while you're down?
• when someone points out your failures?
• when someone wants to point out your faults and short comings?
• when someone doesn't want to pay you what you're worth or what's fair?
• when someone says they have your back and they show they really don't?

Think of all the additional things you could add to this list. What it all means to me is "It's life". It means to me that no matter how someone else is playing the game of life doesn't mean I need to play at their level or even play with them at all. The biggest thing I've learned this year is forgiveness and the power in it. It's also been hard since when I forgive I have to give up my right to get even. I still find a way to get rid of the negativeness and hurt and forgive the person not for them but for myself.

So what does it all mean... that I get lots of practice rising above it and soaring like the eagle I was meant to be. Everything I do today is just in preparation for something much larger to come!!

Dude I Got A Dell... (Back Online)

You may be wondering what happened to me and keeping up with my blog. I have had a month of technology not working for me or crashing down around me. My desktop computer died and within a week while I was traveling I started having trouble with my laptop as well. By the time I returned to Las Vegas the Laptop had taken its final breath.

I didn't want to get Windows Vista since so many friends are still having problems with the new operating system from Microsoft. I went online with Dell and had a custom built laptop with Windows XP. I'm happy with my new laptop but still adjusting to some differences on the keyboard and layout of the computer. Here is a couple pictures of my new laptop and I decided to get it in the blue color.

Life has been great and not slowing down by any means. I visited Atlanta for Thanksgiving and had a blast with friends and former roommate. I'll be posting pictures soon of that trip and a unique tour I got to go on with a group of friends. Hope everyone is well and look forward to being back online again!