What if someone who once wronged and hurt you in this life came through from the other side to try to help you? Would you forgive them and allow them the opportunity to reconcile with you? And as a second step, would you allow them to help you with whatever they wished to assist you in?
The difficult reality is that those who have hurt us often know our vulnerabilities. In some cases, they may even understand us better than we know ourselves. Would you be willing to give them a chance to help you, or would you struggle with the idea?
I recently had a session with a client whose father came through and apologised for deserting the family. As a consequence, my client grew up without a father and struggled for most of her life. No one in the household was spared from the pain; it affected each of them in different ways. Yet here was the very person responsible, seeking not only reconciliation but also the chance to help her navigate a current difficulty.
This is not a unique situation. I have witnessed the same thing many times before. What continues to amaze me is the depth of kindness my clients show in forgiving those who once caused them pain. Through their courage, I have learned a great deal about myself. I have yet to master the art of forgiveness, let alone the ability to turn the page and allow those who hurt me back into my life.
I may possess certain abilities that others do not, but I lack the one that so many people seem to have so naturally: forgiveness. Still, I am willing to learn, and the first step is accepting that none of us, myself included, is perfect.
