The cumulative effect of our simple acts

Every act has its consequence. We may not be aware of its importance, but in some Way , each event contributes to a bigger picture, the significance of which will be revealed only with time. If we can accept this, we can appreciate the importance of the simple, seemingly inconsequential acts we perform without thought, words we speak without consideration or hopes we dash without regard.

Forgiveness begins where blame ends..

Today, I was watching two children having an argument..They were quarreling over some insignificant things as we often do. Their dialogue went something like this:

"You're stupid!"

"Yeah! So are you."

"Not so stupid as you!"

"Oh Yeah!, That's what you think."

After they finished this exchange, they went their separate ways. When I returned to the site not more than an hr later, they were playing together again, having forgotten the whole thing. No brooding, no wounded egos, no blame, no dredging up the past, no recriminations. There it was, a brief and honest exchange of angry feelings, an even briefer cooling off period, and all was forgotten.

Children are certainly much more forgiving than adults. Somewhere in the process of growing up we seem to have become experts of holding grudges, cradling fragile egos and unforgiving natures. We develop razor sharp memories of past wrongs and carry them around, ready at a moment's notice to use them as an ammunition. We become skilled arguers with an underlying sense of what is right. We are determined to win every battle and if we don't, immediately begin plotting our revenge.

Forgiveness comes only when we can identify with others and admit to our own imperfection and an equal capacity for wrongdoing.