Ponderings: On Forgiveness

In 2014, Jo_Goldsmith11 took it upon herself to initiate the Light2Love Project Good Words.

Jo pledged to use good words and publish articles used to empower, encourage, support and defend those who need to be shown love.

Jo offered us a good word for each week to focus our thoughts, behaviors and actions on...In the 11th week, Jo wrote her perspective on the word forgiveness.

However, as 2014 came to an end, Jo filed away her Good Word articles - as she begins the process of publishing it in e-book'. Shyron E. Shenko continues to write a beautiful poem to accompany each Good Word to inspire and lead us.

The ripple effect of the Good Words Project throughout the HubVille community has been heartwarming.

Please join me with some of my musical thoughts and reflections on the word forgiveness...

Momma loved Brenda Lee's music. In turn, I loved Brenda Lee's music - especially the song: "I'm Sorry".

This iconic song hit the radio in 1960 and I was born the November after, in 1961.

Looking back, I must have truly tormented my dear Mother ... at least from what I'm told singing these lyrics like a bad imitation of Baby Jane Hudson.

Mom was hanging laundry on the line and something possessed me to lock the back door. It was simple really. A child could do it ... :) My older brother was yanked out of school with his spare key. After that day, Mom always safety - pinned a key to her clothing when hanging laundry.

That same year, I ended up in the ER ... finally discovering the answer to what happens when you jam a carrot up your nose. I have yet to discover the why part...!

I learned love, acceptance and forgiveness from my parents - each in their own way. Apologizing was the honorable thing to do when you were wrong. Dad was famous for saying: "Apologize like you mean it".

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said at a recent interview at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Phoenix: "And that, I think, might be one of the additional superpowers that quite frankly women who don't ask for raises have."

"Because that's good karma," Nadella continued. "It'll come back because somebody's going to know that's the kind of person that I want to trust. That's the kind of person that I want to really give more responsibility to."

What the hell, Satya... did you really listen to how that sounded? Well, I guess he did... after a whole bunch of women freaked out... and rightly so.

In fact, it's speculated that the gaffe may actually bring more gender equality to the industry.

Nadella has since made a public apology, calling his statement a "wrong and terrible answer to the question" and now wanting Microsoft to be an agent of change in regards to gender disparity in the tech industry.

Shortly after this statement, Nadella took to Twitter, saying that "men and women should get equal pay for equal work." He added that "If you think you deserve a raise, you should just ask." ..... Apologize like you mean it. (Dad, it sounds like he does...??)

So while the jury is out on Nadella, I, for one. appreciate his retraction.

I am currently teaching a psychiatric nursing clinical rotation.

Self - discovery and personal insights are gained as the students learn how to therapeutically communicate with their clients. I encourage students to share freely in our morning and afternoon conferences.

Sobbing openly about how it must feel to hear voices and the compassion she felt, one young lady in her early twenties promised to never cry again: "I'm sorry". I asked her to promise to never make such a promise again!

Of all the folks (take management, please!) who should be apologizing, we need all the love and compassion we can get in the health care profession. And I gave her a hug with tears in my eyes...

I admit that I'm still way easier on others than myself...!!

Martie Coetser was the first friend that I passed the baton to with LOVE, as the very first Good Word of Jo Goldsmith's project.

Yet, when I think of forgiveness, I cannot help but think of Martie as well.

We are truly soul mates, as friends go ... having been with each other through both good and bad times. Even though many miles separate us, the distance between our hearts makes it feel as though we live across the street from each other.

Come to think of it, it that were true, Martie could have helped the other day... oh wait, she did!

Andy Jordan gave marcoujor a taste of her own medicine! I could feel my sweet Momma in heaven, smiling and watching over Andy... he decided it would be cool to follow his Dad to work, slipping under the gate and running out to the street quick as lightning. Slow and calmly (kinda), I was able to encourage my curious pup back home safely -- where some words were exchanged mostly for my benefit I am sure.

And Martie, how was she able to help...? She grounded me and reminded me of the importance of love, forgiveness and especially a sense of humor:

Hugs to you, my sweet mar, BTW, I know you have forgiven Mr. Andy. But yes, chicken wire has to be put up without any delay. Although know he will tear that away, and you will be watching now to make sure he isn't hurting himself to pieces ??? Exactly what our Rott-Basset has done to the wire we put up to keep him in the back yard. Fortunately he grew up and too big to get himself through the gates. ♥ you! Martie

I believe there is no other writer who has expounded on the subject of forgiveness, especially self - forgiveness more than Martie Coetser in her thought provoking and comprehensive work.

I have included some of Martie's links throughout this hub and below, but please check through the HubPages profile and Martie's Foyer website of this amazing writer for yourself.

AND for the next few weeks, I am hereby granting Martie all the self- forgiveness she needs from answering comments...and otherwise keeping in touch with all of her good friends in HubVille (although knowing her, she'll try here and there as she is able!) Martie is in the process of finishing up an exciting novel...and has another couple of major irons in the fires of her life right now...!

Andy and I'll see you next week... oh yeah, now the little guy wants to be a writer?! I'm seeing crayons all over the walls here.........................(note to self...leave Martie alone for a couple weeks...you can do this, mar!!)

© Maria Jordan (October, 2014)