The last year of my life has been a year of forgiveness, which is interesting seeing that Pope Francis has just declared this holy year a jubilee and a year of mercy. Forgiveness, by definition, is to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw or mistake. Today we trust a misconstrued definition of forgiveness which seems to be the act of saying you’ve forgiven or simply making others believe that they’ve been forgiven while your heart remains full of anger or resentment. So what does it take to truly forgive?

You must forgive yourself before you can fully forgive anyone else. You must seek the deepest wounds of your heart and forgive yourself for allowing those things to affect you so much, you must ask God to remind you of His healing powers that you may forgive yourself as He forgives you for every transgression before you’ve even asked for His pardon. If you are capable of opening your heart and forgiving yourself, you are more than capable of actually forgiving others.

This article is for you, those who I have forgiven.

To me, for allowing silly things to bother me and not glowing with the wholesome love that I am called to share at all times. I forgive you.

To the “friends” who stabbed me in the back and went so far as to twist the knife over and over. I forgive you.

To the relationships that broke my heart, especially the ones that made me feel I was beyond repair. I forgive you.

To the people who turn their noses at my tattoos, piercings and strange hair. I forgive you.

To the authority figures and others that I’ve looked up to that made me feel inferior and never good enough. I forgive you.

To the drivers who have cursed me out, shot me the bird and given me nasty looks for common mistakes on the road. I forgive you.

To the gunmen who have brought terror upon this country, and so many other undeserving countries of this world. I forgive you.

To anyone that has made me feel like less of a person, anyone who has shot my confidence and anyone who has insulted me or hurt me in any way. I forgive you.

Not only do I forgive you all, but I am also praying for you and will forever be grateful for the lessons you’ve taught me.

And to those who have forgiven me, thank you.

Thank you to the homeless man on the street for not cursing my name when I heartlessly ignore your needs.

Thank you to the friends I have ignored or dropped entirely for understanding that it isn’t you, it’s me.

Thank you to the family that I have thrust hateful words upon for remembering that we are indeed a family.

Thank you to the drivers who have pardoned me after I cut you off or unintentionally put in danger on the road for realizing that I’m not the only one who has done that.

Thank you to anyone that I have ever made feel inferior, not good enough, too much, not worthy or insulted in any form for acknowledging that we are all facing an internal battle with which some are more capable of dealing with than others.

Thank you to those I have judged through clenched teeth and behind closed doors for knowing that unfortunately it is human nature to pass judgement on someone or something that doesn’t fit our expectations.

Thank you for forgiving me when I don’t deserve it, and thank you for allowing your heart to glow during times that mine may be in the dark.

Forgive and accept forgiveness during this jubilee and year of mercy, allow the fullness of God’s love to transcend your inner thoughts and outer emotions so that you may glow with that love as He asks us to.