Happy New Year: To Forgive is to Love and Visa Versa

Happy New Year to you dear friends! I wish you all the best! I started the New Year with YOU in mind, with thanksgiving to God for you who have shared my story by reading my books, you who have become my new family, you who share the same FAITH journey, and you, who in so many ways give me the strength to go on with my work because of your prayers and support. Your love does not go unnoticed, and my gratitude makes it effortless for me to pray and root for you as well. So in recognition of our confraternity, I give thanks to God and thank you with all my heart.

I would love to share a recent experience with you that touched me so much. Two days ago, I had my first speaking engagement of the year; it was beautiful to see a sold out, packed room of 1200 people, laughing and crying, and truly feeling like the one body we are. At the signing of the books, we shared so many emotions. One lady came and just pointed out with a finger to where to sign, I thought she couldn’t speak for health reasons, then I looked in her face; she was full of emotions…when we crossed eyes, she broke in tears, with hardly a sound coming out of her voice, she said, “I needed this today, thank you”, her silence spoke so much love and compassion. My cousin’s wife, who was sitting beside me and watched as people came and shared their stories with me, was touched as well. At one time she said, “Can I go to sit somewhere else?” I said, “Why?” Then she said, “I don’t think I can do this anymore,” as she was listening to the people sharing with me about how my story has helped them in their own lives. As I looked at her, she was already crying, and she said, “So many people are suffering and they are so good…” She is a survivor as well, and also lost her family during the genocide, but has never been able to talk about it before, until now. Later she said, “I think forgiveness is really the only way to free ourselves…” Remarkably, since that evening she has been talking about it and told me, “I have buried the pain far away but I know it is still there, and all these people who are opening their hearts… it is so beautiful and so okay to let go and forgive”. Somebody said that, “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the flower leaves on the heel of the one that crushed it.” I do believe it.

We all crave for love, for peace, and for freedom. I do seek it daily. We are never done with forgiving or loving; it is our daily practice. The “school of life” we live in, is also the “school of love” and continually offers us new experiences. As we are often tested, every pain pulls a new muscle, and so we must learn to forgive again and again.

I wish you the best for the New Year! Remember always to seek the blessings of the day no matter what hurts you. At the end of the day, look back and see any goodness that was done to you and smile; it is a reminder that God loves you. It can be something as simple as someone who opened a door for you, someone who handed you a pen when you needed it, or somebody who served you coffee kindly at Starbucks or your local coffee shop. Find a reason to be grateful always, make an effort, life will be so much more. If something bad happened, offer it to God, try to learn something good from it, but don’t dwell on it. Remember to tell God, “Let your will be done, and I do trust in You,” and all will be well.

I hope to see many of you in Ohio next week for the retreat. I so look forward to seeing you and having a fruitful weekend. I also want to thank all of you who have joined my FaceBook Fan Page. Today, we celebrate passing the 5000 mark, all who joined in just a few short months! I love you, and I do keep you in my prayers. Please, let’s remember as we communicate that we are friends and always treat each other so!

Many blessings to you,

Immaculee