Bitterness: A Hard Thing To Swallow
Today I was talking with a colleague, and she mentioned that she was frustrated at being treated poorly by those who were in management, that she was unable to forgive and feeling, instead, bitter.
I hope to continue this conversation over the next day or so, to try to explain to her that forgiving has not much to do with the one who wronged you, but with you. Bitterness is a nasty thing to live with. It ages you, makes you hard, and in time will make you a very lonely person.
My grandmother was “Exhibit ‘A’” when it comes to living an unforgiving life. She did have a very hard life growing up, and she had plenty of reason to be angry and hurt. But because she could not forgive, she instead became hard and inflexible.
By the time I was old enough to know her, I found her to be a very cold person, who seemed unable or unwilling to reach out to anyone.
When I was old enough, I felt so sorry for her, because I could see how much of life she was missing out on because of her bitterness. She was so miserable to be around, by the time I had children we just never visited because I did not want my kids hurt by her nastiness.
Finally, in the last year of her life, she changed. A miracle happened before she died. Unfortunately, it was too late for us to get to know her.
— Kareen
Wed, Nov 3rd, 2004 · 1:07pm ↑
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