something everyone needs to hear

"Forgiveness isn't letting them off the hook. It's taking back from them what they took from you."

I heard this today, and it inspired me greatly. I love it when things happen that make me think, and thats definitely what this quote did for me. No matter if you forgive someone or not, they are going to have what they did to you on their conscience. So to forgive someone, is to take back your dignity, pride, and that little bit of yourself that was stolen. Forgiveness does more for you, than it will for someone else. Not forgiving someone will give them that power over you. That spot in your head will be consumed by hate, and a state of confusion. Don't let anyone else ever take a part of your life for you. Live your life for yourself, because that is the reason you were given this life. Everyone knows that in any handful of people, i'm more likely to hold a grudge than anyone else. It's been a part of me that i'm not proud of my entire life. I thought that I was hurting someone who hurt me by not forgiveing them. Guess what, I forgave someone who greatly hurt me more than anyone ever had. I feel happier, and like my life is mine, not theirs. Guess what else, they STILL feel like crap. I know that by holding a grudge, i'm not hurting anyone but myself. Not to say that I take joy in other peoples pain, but I do enjoy to see Karma at work.
From now on, I plan to FORGIVE and be FEARLESS.
I plan to live my life for myself, because if I live for anyone else, it's turning my life over to them.
That's not what God intended. He indended this life for me and only me. That's how I am special. That's how I am going to live.