Forgiveness

I opened today's paper and was so sad. The front page in large print deserving of a 9-11 event read, "HIGH Spirits: Activists hail first recreational pot sales". I don't know why I felt sad...I guess just living in what I consider one of the GREATEST places on earth, THIS is our headline? This is what Colorado may leave as a "great" legacy according to voters who approved this recreational pot use in 2012. One proud 69 year old grandmother held up her "order form" with a big smile and claimed that she "used" for the first time as a CU student in the 60's. Well...there is a shocker! Personally, what I found more profound was 3 pages into the "Local" section of the paper. A small article appeared in the lower corner. "School shooting father forgives classmate". Now THAT is a headline.

While most of us are on a low simmer about pot sales in our state (ironically not yet in Boulder!), a local family has lost their daughter to a school shooting and has forgiven the shooter. Forgiveness is a tough word. It is easily thrown around as something we should do, but actually giving the situation up and healing ourselves in the process is really tough. I cannot even imagine losing one of my kids, but I hope in every part of my being that I would be able to do the same thing as the Davis family. You see, not forgiving, hurts YOU not the other people involved. Can you imagine the gratitude felt by the shooter's family? Although the sheriff's office has taken great care to keep the shooter's name out of the press, the father of Claire chose to say the name, address the action, and forgive. Forgiveness doesn't mean you forget, but it releases your mind to eventually move forward. God bless both of these families as they walk through a very dark time in their lives.

As far as daily forgiveness, it is time to stop "naming" the pot sales in Colorado and move on. Complaining about the issue, giving it time to dwell in our minds, and constantly debating the cons of passing this law just gives it credence. Just for today, think about forgiveness...what do you spend time dwelling on? What do you give your mental energy to that you could change...and maybe let go...and forgive?

A good New Year's 2014 thought...

Coffee Talk Mom