It’s Easter Sunday, and I’ve been thinking about forgiveness and how hard it can be.
Recently, I was struggling to let go of anger and hurt I’d been carrying. Forgiveness felt impossible. That’s when I came across “The Book of Forgiving” by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu. They suggested an exercise: carry a rock to represent the weight of what you’re holding onto.
I found a heavy rock and kept it with me for several days, only setting it down when I absolutely had to. My hand ached. It was exhausting.
And that was the point. Carrying emotional baggage feels exactly like this, it weighs us down and keeps us from moving freely through life.
Even when someone has wronged us, we’re the ones who have to decide to set down that weight. No one else can do it for us.
I’m still learning how to forgive. Some days I can set the weight down. Other days I pick it right back up again. But now at least I know what I’m carrying, and I know it’s mine to put down.