The rain that fell last night was perfect; gentle, slow and steady.  The sort of rain that forces you to pause, look up to heaven and be thankful after a long time of drought.  So it was as I walked in the cool mist of this spring morning, I knew this was a special time.  For this very rain many people have prayed and looked forward to; and now I find myself enjoying with a big grin spread across my happy face.

          A chubby chipmunk draws my attention and as I watch him scamper off into the moist forest I spot this strange cactus.  It looked like a green chainsaw with dual blades planted in the middle of the woods.  As I gazed at the cruel plant cling greedily to the sweet raindrops I could almost hear a challenge coming from its barbed lips; daring me to try to take its precious raindrops.  Instinctively I knew I was not the first to come face to face with this brutal and bitter plant.

          Thankfully I was able to walk away from the confrontation.  Sadly, there have been other times in my life when I have seemed worse tempered, irritable and cantankerous than my foul friend with the big fangs.  If things did not go my way you could hear me growl and complain.  Cross me once and watch out; my mission soon became one of getting even with you.  The road to revenge is a never ending dead end street.  Once you began to walk the thorny path of bitterness it is extremely difficult to exit because it is an all consuming occupation.  Harbor a grudge, nurse ill will in your heart or allow the root of bitterness to take root and soon you are only hurting yourself.

          Let us today cast away the chains that bind us to a life lived for revenge.  Choose to free yourself from bitterness and self-punishment and then walk in the pleasant rains of forgiveness.  We can choose to live in freedom and liberty or the prison of hostility, resentment and animosity.  Reach out to that person who has hurt you in the past and forgive.  Write a note and say, “I am sorry”, give them a smile and build a bridge.  Whatever it takes; release your bitterness.  Happiness is a choice; choose a life free of bitterness.

Something to think about:

• A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past; he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.

• Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.

• Hatred is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat…Hatred is like fire; it makes even light rubbish deadly.

• Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

• Parents wonder why the streams are bitter when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.

• Every moment you are angry, you lose a minute of happiness.

Thankful for my forgiving friends
Rickey Moore