Isn't Your Bag Heavy Enough?

I received this via email from Inspiration Daily .  It's such a great thought I wanted to share it with you today, along with this scripture that goes well with the message.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

Isn't Your Bag Heavy Enough?

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life experience, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.

We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work.

The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually. We were constantly reminded how we had to pay attention to it all the time. We could not forget the bag and kept putting our bag in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime.

This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person and it clearly is for ourselves as much as anyone!

So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself... isn't your bag heavy enough?

- Author Unknown