Madiba believed in forgiveness and reconciliation and in healing the nation. He was upright, an honest leader and believed in equality.
The following piece on ‘Forgiveness has a healing effect’ is dedicated to him by Councillor Ugan Chetty and the Ward Four Committee.
“Nelson Mandela is a living example of how the practice of forgiveness has healed the land. Another such person was a world champion boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Boxer. Both were victims to racial discrimination and were unjustly imprisoned for most of their lives.
During a series of disappointments and challenges, they eventually found inner peace through forgiveness while still in prison.
Hate put them in prison but love set them free. When we forgive an injustice, we attract more justice. Perpetrators of injustice see their own unjust actions. Mistakes are a natural part of growth – without forgiveness we will not feel safe to take risks.
In our relationships, at home, at work, in the community we need to let go of the past and live in the present times. This helps us to stop blaming others, feeling sorry for ourselves or blaming ourselves. By forgiving others, we free ourselves to become hurt, offended and defensive. Forgiveness then becomes a gift so love can flow freely. We need to reflect why certain people cause us hurt.
They may be thoughtless, careless or just plain stupid. What kind of justice is it that strikes back at the weak? If we think with our brain instead of our emotions, we realise that striking back doesn’t solve the problem, it only increases it. Refusing to forgive those who offended us and blaming them for our pain, we tend to lose the happiness we enjoy. Such understanding will enable us to respond to their cry for help with compassion, not anger, with kindness, not spite. We will then be able to offer them comfort, respect and guide them by our own examples.
So for today, try to be as angry as you can be, then once you released your hurt and anger, strive for healthy forgiveness – forgiveness that sets you free to walk your own path.”
Wisdom speaks
The best thing you can give your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud; to yourself, respect; and to all mankind, charity – Arthur James Balfour.
I will not allow anger or regret into my heart today. It will only poison me and hurt everybody else. I will be conscious of every thought, word and action today. I will become what I think, what I say, what I do today – Anonymous.
Councillor Ugan Chetty and the Ward Four Committee
