To forgive and be forgiven.

If there's one thing I've experienced this summer, it's the power of forgiveness. As cheesy and as sunday-school as that sounds, forgiveness is such an amazing thing. And you'll never understand what I'm talking about unless you experience it for yourself.

To say the words "I'm sorry" and to hear the words "I forgive you" is...life changing. And to hear the words "I'm sorry" and to say the words "I forgive you" too, life changing. Honestly, have you ever apologized and actually, really, truly, madly, deeply (thank you Savage Garden) meant it? In my situation, God's voice was practically screaming into my ears; he couldn't have made it more obvious. And that's how I knew I was ready. That's how I knew it was right, there's not a doubt in my mind.

The weight that's lifted from your shoulders is freeing. And for the first time in your life, you feel completely content. There's nothing scraping away at the back wall of your mind. You can finally do and say things and not feel like a total sham.

Whoever decided whole "nothing tastes as sweet as revenge" thing obviously hasn't experienced life. Whoever thought that holding a grudge would offer a person some sort of fulfillment was wrong. And whoever refuses to forgive and be forgiven will live their lives with eyes closed, heart clenched, and hands cold.

I like the way this is going and I like the person I'm becoming. I like not being scared anymore, and I like the hand that's guiding me.