Gary Renard on Forgiveness

 

Gary Renard is one of the easiest to understand A Course in Miracles teachers.  This 14 minute video explains the Course view on forgiveness.  If you have not been exposed to Course teachings before, hold onto your hat!  Gary jumps into the kind of deep metaphysical thought that take most students years to understand.  Gary always leaves me wanting more!! More knowledge, more understanding, more application of what I know to be the truth in my life. 

For practical and easy tips on how to apply forgiveness to our daily lives:

My Table is Set and Ready

Come join me at my table.  This is a table of gratitude for all that God makes ours.  We give thanks that God loves us infinitely. We give thanks for the beauty and abundance we experience in this world. Thank you God for the love that surrounds us and the joy and peace that is ours whenever we choose to join with you. 

As an expression of our thankfulness, we in turn, love our brothers.  We release all judgments and we accept everything in this world.  All is forgiven.  We choose to live in love.  And on this day of gratitude we say our Thanksgivings!

I Raise You and I Praise You

An easy forgiveness exercise for situations where it is easy to forgive...

                                                             I Raise You and I Praise You
                                                       I Raise You and I Praise You
                                                 I Raise You and I Praise You
                                           I Raise You and I Praise You
                                    I Raise You and I Praise You
                             I Raise You and I Praise You
                       I Raise You and I Praise You
                I Raise You and I Praise You
          I Raise You and I Praise You
    I Raise You and I Praise You

 

As you think these words, visualize the person you want to forgive floating upward to the light.  Keep saying the words in your mind until you really feel that the person is raised to the highest place, is filled with light and in the presence of God.  Bless them with your love.

 

 

"Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness" by Sue Pipal is available at:

 

Amazon.com

Barnesandnoble.com

Balboapress.com



Forgiveness is Replacing Judgment with Love

Forgiveness is actually very easy to do.  However, in order to do it easily, you have to change the way you think about this world.

Forgiveness is replacing judgment with love.  It is recognizing that God never judges anyone, ever.  He loves each one of his creations.  After all, he created every one of us in his own image.  We are exactly like him.  And since he is complete and pure love he sees us through eyes of love. 

God is the strength in which I trust.

"It is not my own strength through which I forgive.  It is through the strength of God in me, which I am remembering as I forgive.  As I begin to see, I recognize His reflection on earth.  I forgive all things because I feel the stirring of His strength in me.  And I begin to remember the Love I chose to forget, but which has not forgotten me."   --A Course in Miracles, Workbook Lesson 60

In forgiveness, we look at our adversaries with God's eyes.  We drop our judgments and we see others in their truth.  They are exactly what we are, pure spirit, complete love.

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you"--C.S. Lewis

Of course, it is absolutely true that in this "dream world" people do things to us that are destructive to our well being and this can often be painful.  However, we need to realize that people only do these things out of their own ignorance.  They do not remember who they really are.  They don't remember that they are actually perfect loving whole spiritual beings, created by God out of only love.  They come here and they forget.  They lose sight of the big picture. They become blinded by their ego minds and all the things the grasping ego demands for them.  They forget their real truth.

Remember also that many people simply don't look to see love in the world around them.  It just doesn't occur to them to do so.  They may have been mistreated or disrespected.  Perhaps they've never been shown what love really looks like. They don't know any better.  That doesn't make what they do less destructive in our lives, but perhaps it makes it easier to see the world from their perspective. 

That's OK.  Let them be what they are and do what they will...for now.  Recognize the fact that they are a little behind us on the path to God.  They're not awakened yet. 

But you, however, you are starting to wake up.  It's your forgiveness job to look past the dream actions others take in this dream world and to see beyond to their truth.  Raise them up in your mind.  Release them and let them go.  Forgive them and as you forgive, over time a backwash of love will seep into your life.  Forgiving others is actually the road to forgiving yourself.   And self forgiveness leads to inner peace. 

"Forgiveness is the demonstration that you are the light of the world.  Through your forgiveness does the truth about yourself return to your memory.  Therefore, in your forgiveness lies your salvation." --  A Course in Miracles, Workbook Lesson 62

"Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness" by Sue Pipal is available at: 

barnesandnoble.com

amazon.com

balboapress.com



Living the Happy Dream: Finding Heaven on Earth Through Forgiveness

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.  --e. e. Cummings

The Promise of the Happy Dream

A Course of Miracles promises that the more you forgive, the happier your life will be.  In fact,  over time, as you begin to forgive everyone and every difficult event or circumstance in the world around you, you will actually begin to live what the Course calls the "happy dream". 

  
Forgiveness as the Path to Peace

Forgiveness is much easier than you may think.  In fact, once you get in the habit, it actually becomes pleasurable.  There's really no reason to live a life of fear, anxiety, upset or lack when the possibility of the "happy dream" life is such an easy alternative.  It doesn't happen over night, of course, but a few years of significant forgiveness work will improve your life immeasurably.

 

Seeing the World Through Heaven’s Eyes

In A Course in Miracles, the “happy dream” is not a fantasy world or a denial of pain — it’s a state of mind where forgiveness has cleared away fear and guilt. When we forgive, we begin to see the world differently. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, we start to notice the light in others, the beauty of the moment, and the quiet joy that comes from inner peace. The “happy dream” is what life looks like when we’ve stopped defending against love. It’s a gentle, forgiving perception of everything and everyone, a world softened by grace.

So...what are you waiting for? 

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love →.

My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →

Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release.

Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice of forgiveness. Sign up here →

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

"Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness" is available in both hardcover and paperback at:

amazon.com

barnesandnoble.com

For an ebook go to:

balboapress.com

Stop Holding Yourself Back: Start Forgiving and Find True Peace

Why Forgiveness Matters

You may be wondering why forgiveness is so important. Here are two very big reasons why you are holding yourself back whenever you do not forgive.

1) Holding Yourself Back from Going Home to God

Our ultimate goal is to be more like God so that we can return home and be with Him. Until we become more like Him, and think only loving thoughts, we remain in this “dream world” of suffering and fear.

God does not judge; He only sees our true and perfect selves. He created us and he loves us unconditionally.  In A Course in Miracles, we are asked to give up all forms of judgment and to accept and forgive everything in our lives.  We are asked to become more like God, himself.  He knows that all his children remain as he created them, perfect and whole, despite however they may behave on this confusing, psycho planet of illusion.  

"It is necessary for the teacher of God to realize, not that he should not judge, but that he cannot." —A Course in Miracles, Manual for Teachers 10, 2, 1

"God's Son is guiltless, and sin does not exist." —A Course in Miracles, Manual for Teachers 10, 2, 9

2) Holding Yourself Back from Inner Peace

You are also holding yourself back from knowing peace while you are here. Relinquishing judgments by accepting and forgiving the world is the only path to inner peace.

"God's word has promised that peace is possible here, and what He promises can hardly be impossible. But it is true that the world must be looked at differently, if His promises are to be accepted." —A Course in Miracles, Manual for Teachers 11, 1, 7

We begin to see the world differently by looking through the eyes of forgiveness. We drop all judgments, recognizing that every person is a brother—even if they sometimes behave badly or forget their true nature. We must know their real identity for them. We accept with grace the events of this world and trust that they are happening here for us as a means where we can grow and purify by accepting and forgiving.  When we accept everything that happens to us, we are creating peace in our minds. 

"How is peace possible in this world? In your judgment it is not possible, and can never be possible. But in the Judgment of God what is reflected here is only peace." —A Course in Miracles, Manual for Teachers 11, 3, 7–9

Forgiveness and acceptance are not passive--we can still stand for justice, speak up, and take positive action--while maintaining love and respect for everyone. 

As a sidenote, it’s important to remember that acceptance and forgiveness do not mean lying meekly down and taking whatever is given to us. We don’t need to invite murderers to dinner, and we don’t need to agree with cruel world leaders. It’s okay to speak up and express your thoughts about right and wrong. You can even work to create positive change in the world, both locally and globally. However, we do all of this knowing the higher truth for everyone we encounter. We do not judge those we disagree with as being lesser than us. We’re all here having different adventures and learning different lessons. If you can help make life better for others, do so—but always hold love and respect for everyone in your heart, even the difficult ones.

Start a Forgiveness Habit Today

Begin a daily practice of forgiveness, even in small steps. It doesn’t happen overnight, but with diligence and consistency, your life will shift in ways that astonish you, bringing happiness, peace, and freedom.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love. Read it here →

• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon → | Barnes & Noble → | Balboa Press →

• Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release.

• Receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails and insights to deepen your practice → Sign up here

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

"Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness" is available in both paperback and hardcover at:

amazon.com

barnesandnoble.com

To download an ebook: 

balboapress.com

Stuff to Forgive: How a Daily Forgiveness List Can Transform Your Life

Santa’s Coming Soon—Time to Make a List!

The holidays are almost here. Most of us think about what we want, gifts we hope for, and lists of things to buy. But if you want a truly joyful holiday season, why not focus on forgiveness instead? Rather than creating a list of things you want, create a list that will bring real happiness and peace to your life.

Start Your Forgiveness List

We all have things that weigh on our hearts:

Barking dogs in the neighborhood

• Your spouse for not appreciating you enough
• Your kids for making a mess all over the house
• The girl who made fun of your skirt in fifth grade
• The first guy who broke up with you
• Your former "best friend" for dating your ex-boyfriend
• Your aging parent for getting older
• Yourself for creating clutter
• Your friend or neighbor who died unexpectedly
• The deep hurt you feel when you are ignored

Go ahead… make a list. Take ten or twenty minutes and jot down everything you can think of. Nothing is too big or too small. Don’t worry about forgiving anything just yet—just do a brain dump and get it down on paper.

Work Slowly and Gently

Once your list is ready, start forgiving one thing each morning during your daily meditation or prayer. Take it slow. You don’t need to tackle something new every day. Sometimes you may work on the same item for several days. Sometimes you may just stew on it. That’s okay.

Remember: forgiveness is a process. Don’t rush it. Be gentle with yourself, and don't be surprised if the universe gives you a little shove.  It might gift you with a little more information or insight about what you're forgiving.  Or sometimes we get another forgiveness "lesson" that is similar to the issue we're working on.  It's nothing to be upset about.  It's there for your good and overall growth, adding greater understanding to the lesson.  Chances are you'll be gently nudged in ways that will help you tackle each item on your list.  Let it unfold and do the forgiveness work you can as you are ready. 

You’re Doing This for You

Above all, remember that this practice is for you. YOU want peace. YOU want happiness. Every step you take toward forgiveness is a step toward your own freedom and well-being

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love. Read it here →

• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon → | Barnes & Noble → | Balboa Press →

• Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release.

• Receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails and insights to deepen your practice → Sign up here

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

 

"Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness" is available at: 

 

amazon.com

barnesandnoble.com

balboapress.com