I work part-time as the volunteer coordinator for a senior care center. The center has many residents who have various stages of dementia, including Alzheimer's. What I have learned being around these people, is that they do not harbor grudges. Because of their memory loss, they live in the moment and do not remember things or people that upset them the day before.
A man that my father served with in the Army during WWII, came through my hometown in Kansas back in the 1990's. He called and asked if he could come see my father. They had not seen each other since the war ended, so I thought this would be a wonderful reunion.
However, fifty years ago this man did something that my father did not like and which my father had never forgotten. When the man came to the house, Daddy was very cool to him. He still harbored resentment towards this man and let it stand in the way of them having a nice visit. I was surprised at my father's behavior and how tightly he still clung to his grudge.
When we hold a grudge against someone we are living in the past rather than the present. We're not able to truly embrace and enjoy the present and all it has to offer when we are clinging to the past. Is there someone from your past that you are harboring a grudge against or feeling resentment towards? If so, why not make a conscious decision to release it? Try focusing on the positive attributes of this person. See them through the eyes of your inner Christ.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. [Philippians 4:8]
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