Lately my pastor has been talking a lot about forgiveness. It’s inspired me because for so many of us, forgiveness is the main obstacle standing between us and peace. Unforgiveness stunts our growth; it keeps us from healing. Once we stop assigning blame and instead replacing it with compassion, we can grow; we can bloom. I know, easier said than done, right? But what if we make the choice to pray for our enemies? This is exactly how we release ourselves from the bondage of unforgiveness. Who do you need to forgive? Someone who hurt you? A friend? A family member? Maybe even yourself?

To bloom as an artist, I have to forgive myself for not being as far along as I could be. Many days I’ve wasted not creating anything. I’ve wasted time being hung up on things, on people, on circumstances I couldn’t change. Had I pushed through that, who knows where I’d be today. The truth is, forgiving myself means loving myself where I’m at. It’s realizing even on those wasted days, I was doing the best I could with the mental state I was working with.

I looked at these pastels as they touched the paper, and I wondered if I could do better if I had better tools, a wider variety of colors, higher end pastels and paper. What if I had more time to hone in on my art skills instead of working as a nurse? I thought back to my childhood, sitting outside on my trampoline with a big box of crayons. I’m not sure exactly what ran through my mother’s head whenever I would walk through the door with a new creation, but what I can guarantee is this. Never once did she blame me for not handing her a museum worthy work of art. She knew what I was working with and what just wasn’t possible for me at that level.

We are all doing the best we can with the mental, physical, and emotional states we are in. We are all dealing with different levels of past traumas, present circumstances, and disadvantages. The truth is, we are all doing the best we can with the box of crayons in front of us.

“Blooming Beyond Blame” is inspired by the healing and restorative act of forgiveness. The brightly colored blooms amidst the dark background represent the impact compassion has on a bitter heart. The compassion we choose to have on a person doesn’t always impact that person’s heart, though often times it does. However, it always impacts our own heart. Choose to have compassion; bloom beyond blame. This piece comes in a gorgeous 11×14” black Victorian frame with gold detailing, matted to 8×10” and is available for purchase in my Etsy Shoppe and EBay Store.

kamillestreasures.etsy.com

eBay.com/usr/kamillegrace16

I once walked on soil

where bitterness grew.

I couldn’t forgive myself;

I couldn’t forgive you.

.

Anger took root;

resentment too.

Blame bloomed abundantly

in every hue.

.

Then one day I decided

I’d welcome the rain.

My tears watered the soil,

and I bloomed beyond my pain.

.

When we’re honest with ourselves

about what we feel,

then we can bloom;

then we can heal.

.

I chose to love;

I chose to live;

I chose to plant peace;

I chose to forgive.

.

When we realize we’re all

just doing our best,

it’s easier to let go;

it’s easier to rest.

.

Because the truth is the one

who once hurt you,

was most likely the one

who was hurting too.

.

Roses have now formed

in ivory, pink, and red.

Unforgiveness wilted,

and I have a garden instead.