Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. (Ephesians 4:32). 
Forgiving is the first step to close a painful event even if we bear the scars of the offenses, because God gives us through His son Jesus a new strength and perspective to look through. The offenses that we experienced or encountered in our life’s journey shouldn’t consume us and put us down, rather should feel that it is God given opportunity to be a better person and show our forgiveness to them by loving our offenders as Jesus our Master and Savior did. This act of forgiving will further leads us to be more virtuous and holy. It’s not always easy, but it’s the ideal step to take to move on. Even in the most difficult circumstances of our lives, we can often recognize the grace of God at work. God’s work is to bring life out of nothingness, happiness out of sorrow, healing out of pain, and hope out of defeat, companionship out of loneliness, and finally forgiveness out of offenses. On the way to forgiveness we need to learn lot of things. To be able to forgive others is a gift to ourselves! When we forgive we free ourselves. When we forgive others and ourselves we shift into a newly created space that shines with compassion and mercy, and when we forgive we grow in love and wisdom.
If I imagine forgiving my offender as an obligation, I will find it difficult to forgive others freely and generously. But if I know the forgiveness comes from God as an unmerited gift and feels that it is God’s generosity and love, I may experience within myself the same generous capacity to forgive the one who has hurt me and love him all the more. Lewis B Smedes said “to forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you”.  So let us free ourselves by practicing this great virtue of forgiveness in our life because Forgiveness is essential to our spiritual well-being; it is the necessary outcome of loving one another as God has loved us.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8). These words are very comforting and encouraging.  However, being a Christian does not guarantee a life void of trial and difficulties. As a matter of fact, being a Christ follower we may come across with lot of invitations from Mr. Temptation and Ms. Test.  Both are deceiving and intimidating however the key to overcome these and maintain serenity in our life we need to trust in God’s eternal words as Jesus did. When we get to know the Promise of God deep down it will transform us and make us to move closer to Him, and moreover enable us to act upon His Holy Will. As you know God always assures that even if the whole world abandons you He will not forsake you, no matter what the situation regardless of how lonely life gets or appears to be, or how wretched you are, and how far away you are from his presence.

Here I would like to share with you a story that was told by my spiritual director and it goes like this….. One night a man had a dream. He dreamt that he was walking along the beach with God. As he looked up at the sky, he saw all the scenes of his life flash by along with two sets of footprints: one set of himself and another of God. As he looked carefully at those footprints he noticed something quite disturbing: sometimes there were two sets of footprints and at other times, particularly at the most difficult times in his life, he saw only one set of them. This deeply troubled the man, so he turned and said to God: “Lord, you said that if I followed you, then you would always walk with me through thick and thin, in all my difficulties and joys. In looking back, I see that during the most painful times there is only one set of footprints. Why did you leave me when I needed you the most?” He heard the voice of God who said, “My child, I love you and would never leave you alone. It was during those difficult times you see one set of footprints and that is the time when you suffered the most that I carried you in my arms.” The moral of the story is that God not only offers us encouragement when we are in difficulty, but he totally enters into our hardship with us to see us through. 

I happened to read this message in one of the forwards I received this week and I thought that I must share with you all as well.
*”Walking”* is the best Exercise.
*Walk Away* from arguments that leads you to nowhere but anger.
*Walk Away* from people who deliberately put you down.
*Walk Away* from any thought that reduces your worth.
*Walk Away* from failures and fears that stifle your dreams.
*Walk Away* from people who do not care for you and who are opportunistic. The more you
*Walk Away* from things that poison your soul, the  happier your life will be.
*Give Yourself A Walk* to God’s house and worship Him in Truth and in Spirit. May God help us daily to walk in the right direction, to walk towards Him and with Him.
*Give yourself A Walk* towards the sacraments you embraced and received, especially the sacrament of Eucharist and experience the very presence of  Christ Jesus.
*Give Yourself A Walk* Towards love, peace, kindness and goodness
*Let’s do more walking* This is the best spiritual exercise and nourishment for your soul.  Just like how you spend time  Walking for your physical fitness , keep sometime to do spiritual walk for the glory of God and for your own personal sanctification.