Paulo Coelho
An old man sold toys in the Baghdad market. Knowing that his sight was not quite perfect, his customers sometimes paid him with fake money.
The old man discovered the ruse, but did not say anything. In his prayers he asked God to forgive those who cheated him. “Perhaps they’re short of money and want to buy presents for their children,” he said to himself.
The time passed and the old man died. Standing before the gates of Heaven, he prayed once more:
- Lord! - he said. - I am a sinner. I did many wrong things, I am no better than the false coins I was paid. Forgive me!
At that moment the gates swung open and a Voice was heard:
- Forgive what? How can I judge someone who all through his life never once passed judgment on others?
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It is a great story and makes us think again about this greatly simple, but still such a difficult thing of forgiveness. How much can we forgive and where is the limit when we have to stop forgiving? How much can we take before we say “enough”? It is as simple as “never”. And only our complicated nature of being a human with confusing mixture of emotions and feelings craves for fighting back, for battle and for war. Is there any sane person, who is dreaming about their home or country to be invaded by hostility and death? So why do we do this to our soul?
This testimony belongs to my great friend and it fully entitles me to say that there are not limits for forgiveness. He made a long life path rising his only son, went through extremely difficult times, some moments he lived just on the prayer to get through these moment. For a long time his son was extremely involved in alcohol and drugs, his life sounded like fading away day by day with out any hope to get out of these addictions. He was damaging his life, life of his family and people surrounding him. This was going on for 15 years and for 15 years his father did not stop praying for son and loving him. Last year son made a decision finally to make a change and spend a year on the intensive programme in rehabilitation center. Couple of months ago he left walls of the center being absolutely different person – he had a hope, he learnt to dream and see prospects in his life. He decided to dedicate the rest of his life to God and walking his way according to His will. However as we know “Gods ways are not our ways”. Within 1-2 days of being out of rehab he was accidently killed by the drunken driver on the road. I can not imagine what went through father’s heart at that moment by loosing his only son, but during arranging funeral for his son, he took Bible and decided to visit a man who killed him. When he saw the prisoner the first words he told him that he wanted to share Love of God with him and to tell him how much our Heavenly Father loves him. It was a long conversation between them, but at the end of it tears were flooding eyes of both men, they were crying on each others shoulder with overflowing understanding of God’s presence in their lives. That day man who killed his son gave his life to God and decided to dedicate it to the God. Father’s hope was restored and till this day I see this hope and joy of God in his eyes.
Forgiveness and Love of God is unlimited, why do we need to limit ourselves?!
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Forgiveness instead of judgement…a beautiful key for heaven's gates.
Thank you
Love
HIldegarde
X
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C’est reassurant!
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accepting compassion :
Accepting compassion:
One day, I am brought in at home after a weekend of holidays, and my house had been broken!!! The space in my house, but there were clothes and furniture: when I saw it, in the first one I had a sensation of fear (we returned at home, so easily!!)And then I thought, I shall have enough money with the money of the assurance to buy to myself television in occasion, cd in occasion etc. but the one who came to break in me doubtless has no money, and it is obliged to break to live and to feed his family…Then I accept this burglary as a “gift” for him, a “gift”of sharing of my ” things ” with him who has less that I (only regret: my music collection which warms my heart, and certain CD of which will be untraceable today!!)
But what what is that the material!! A comfort / and to survive for some is their only objective - > condolence, understanding and sharing
And if I I was him: it is the good question to ask in front of the events of the life, every day, wherever we are (leaving)
un jour , je suis rentrée à la maison après un week-end de vacances , et …ma maison avait été cambriolée !!! le vide dans ma maison , mais il restait les vêtements et des meubles : quand j’ai vu cela , en premier j’ai eu une sensation de peur ( on est rentré chez moi , si facilement !! ) puis ensuite j’ai pensé , j’aurai assez d’argent avec l’argent de l’assurance pour m’acheter une télévision en occasion , des cd en occasion ..etc ..mais celui qui est venu me cambrioler n’a sans doute pas d’argent , et il est obligé de cambrioler pour vivre et nourrir sa famille ….alors j’accepte ce cambriolage comme un “don” pour lui , un “don” de partage de mes affaires avec lui qui a moins que moi ( … seul regret : ma collection de musique qui réchauffe mon coeur , et dont certains CD seront introuvable aujourd’hui !! )
Mais qu’est ce que le matériel !! un confort / et survivre pour certains est leur seul objectif -> compassion , compréhension et partage
Et si moi j’étais lui : c’est la bonne question à se poser devant les évènements de la vie , chaque jour , où que l’on soit
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ACCEPTING COMPASSION IN YOUR HEART
Nobody is perfect , like me too ! ! !
so understand that somebody is like you , understand him (her)
= LOVE
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Hala , Hala ,
Yes and the second, the third chance… etc. must be given to all because on the first march we know nothing, on the second march we are hardly enlightened, on the third march OF THE LIFE we know that it is necessary to learn and we commit erruers without being conscious of it…..And if you, you are on the twentieth march, you know a little more that your ” small brother “, then forgives he his errors because he ” does not know what he makes “, forgives helps him and, even if you do not understand that it you hurt, because by helping your fellow man, you will help the human relations towards the love.
To accept, to forgive, to help, no rancor in your heart but of the love and the condolence, it will help ” your young ” brother; and if you give, you will receive and you can go up another march, to help and love more and be in the enjoyment
Do not judge, but accept the person such as she(he) is (at a stage of her(his) life, and her(his) connaissnce of the life etc.)
help him to understand and you will understand better for you
oui et la deuxième , la troisième chance …etc…doit être donnée à tous car sur la première marche on ne sait rien , sur la seconde marche on est à peine éclairé , sur la troisième marche DE LA VIE on connait qu’il faut apprendre et on commet des erruers sans en avoir conscience …..et si toi , tu te trouves sur la vingtième marche , tu connais un peu plus que ton “petit frère” , alors pardonne lui ses erreurs car il ne “sait pas ce qu’il fait ” , pardonne lui et aide le , même si tu ne comprends pas que cela tu fasses mal , car en aidant ton prochain , tu aideras les relations humaines vers l’amour .
Accepter , pardonner , aider , pas de rancune en ton coeur mais de l’amour et de la compassion , cela aidera “ton petit” frère ; et si tu donnes , tu recevras et tu pourras monter encore une marche , pour aider et aimer davantage et être dans la joie
ne pas juger , mais accepter la personne telle qu’elle est ( à un stade de sa vie , et de sa connaissnce de la vie ..etc.. ) aide le à comprendre et tu comprendras mieux à ton tour
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i’m not sure about that,because i’m not sure that we could use this rule in many others situations,or others crimes, even if we cannot judge in our heart,does it mean that we must close our eyes, or we must not try to do something when we see something really bad?
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What a beautiful man. Stories like that are so touching. I admire gentle people. My mother is one of those. She forgives and makes excuses for people. I, on the other hand, aim my shoe.
Kathleen xxoo
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Great story. I wanted to cry when I read this phrase “Perhaps they’re short of money and want to buy presents for their children,”
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We should ask first to the question:
Why one feels so strongly the “need” to talk badly and judge other? It is an impuls that must be controlled. But where this imupls comes from? What exactly is the cause of this impuls?
Once we have the answer, then we’ll have the tool to stop it.
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I believe that we should all give second chances even if it was for someone who has done us great harm. We are all human and we all make mistakes, but forgiveness is only found in the hearts of few.
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I wonder what those people give fake money feels,some people are more scared when you did not take revenge,they come to you and ask why,and they wish earnestly that you can punish them,its weired.In my case,people blame me for the death,or something else,many ridiculous things happens in their life and they search me for the reason,to make them feel more comfortable,I do admit it sometimes,and they start to call me a witch.
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i wish we could learn not to judge others in society…. it happens every moment and every day in life,,,,
but i believe that if we could learn to understand the nature of life and the psycology of human beeing, we might even be able to learn to accept others- their way and poco a poco to stop judging…. may be one day!!!!!!!!amen
and almost all will be ideal!!!!!
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Dear ADINA,
You are right when say: “Why do we do that as there is so much space in this universe, enough for everyone to be who he wants to be, we live 80 - 100 years, we have so many years for being the ones we want to be.”
Unfortunately the nature of human being is composed of good and evil. But yet we have power to chose one of them, at any moment.
There is a Latin word: “Errare humanum est.” This means “making mistakes is the nature of human being”. I think this word was said to help us to forgive them who (seem to) make mistakes.
We should look forward, not to be paralyzed within the past. So we have to forgive, but not forget the lesson we got from other’s mistakes.
Once prophet Abraham was asked: “From whom did you learn good?” Abraham answered: “From them who does bad.” This is important point, we have to do good even if we are surrounded by bad people, this is duty of every human being.
Loves ;-)
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God is the Same for anyone… Just men made Him to say what he’s supposed to say and most often time it’s wrong…
Dieu est le même pour tous … Seuls les Hommes lui font dire ce qu’il est supposé avoir dit et le plus souvent c’est faux !
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La definición más común de Dios es como ser supremo, omnipotente, omnipresente y omnisciente.[3] Creador, protector, juez y, en algunas religiones, salvador del universo y la humanidad. No es posible definirlo como algo conocido y establecer una descripción exacta y certera, por lo que la aceptación de su existencia y presencia viene dada por cada individuo, basándose en alguna de las religiones del mundo o por experiencia propia. Esto esta escrito en wilkipedia y es hermoso que así sea, por que no alimentamos nuestras vidas, solo de caminos recorridos y disfrutar de ellos, sí ya llegara el momento en el que Dios nos juzgue …si después de todo somos tres seres en uno: “lo que ven los demás” “lo que queremos ser” y finalmente “lo que somos en realidad” cada paso es una experiencia no un conflicto, deleguemos a quien corresponda, el juzgar, y aprovechemos y disfrutemos de que pertenecemos a este mundo con nuestros. Defectos y virtudes, con nuestras cosas buenas y malas. Claro que hay un DIOS Y UN Diablo, pero también estamos nosotros que somos lo mejor que han creado…con todo lo bueno y con todo lo malo pero seguimos siendo lo mejor y quien quiera que este en el cielo o el infierno saben que somos “EL MILAGRO EN ESTE BENDITO MUNDO”
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For the first time in my life last Dec I started to see in my mind, the many ways I had hurt the ones I loved- with my words mostly…and I felt their hurt and their pain. And I asked God to forgive me.
I decided this year, I would not judge, but love and accept. And to remind myself of this- everytime I found myself on the verge of judging someone- I said (and say)–” No judging– Loving only”. I used my reminders alot at the beginning..but now it’s starting to come naturally I dont even need to change my attitude.
Im more peaceful and balanced as a result. Today someone did something spiteful to me for no apparent reason. But I was able to love them anyway– and remain kind and gracious to them.
Not judging, like forgiving– is good to the soul. It frees YOU inside…since when you judge and harbour bitter feelings, it is YOU– not the other person..who wrestles with these feelings which ultimately eat you up inside and dim your light.
Thank you for the message on not judging. I’m a testimony that it works…
KP
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I expect to pass through this world but once ;any good things therefor that I can do,or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature,let me do it now ;let me not defer or neglect it,for i shall not pass this way again .Stephen Grellet ..
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God does not judge he forgives :-)
Letting us do mistakes so we can learn from them.
How can we learn if we dont do any mistakes?
Love Jessoca
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Dear Sefer JAN, excellent example.
I personally feel guilty every time I judge someone, even if I am right. I feel as it is not my right or business to do judge. But it is really so difficult to keep away people that come to you and gossip about other people. I really hate that. It is so ugly job, really. And there is this culture in all countries, to talk badly about someone. I do that too. Then I feel sorry and I hate myself and my big stupid mouth…
Sometimes I consider that many high positioned people are not capable to have a decent subject of conversation but to gossip, judge, kill with words the honour of others.
On the other hand, in a society it is quite normal that its members to talk with each other and about others. It is wrong when one kills with words or thoughts the other.
God says:”The revenge is Mine.” Also he says:”You can get angry, but do not be wrong by that. In your beds you will feel sorry for that”…The translation is quite aproximative.
The human mind needs explanations for everything and is looking for it, and when no answer is to our questions, the mind speculates and gets wrong many times. We are so curious, since Adam and Eve…We want to know everything, we do not have a bit of respect for what we should know about others or not, we search like dogs in the garbage for any trace of information, and judge, and punish, and kill the success of others or their image. Why do we do that as there is so much space in this universe, enough for everyone to be who he wants to be, we live 80 - 100 years, we have so many years for being the ones we want to be. Instead of that we like not to evoluate and take care of our business, but to judge others.
Perhaps I come from such entourage and I fell sick of these kind of discusions my colleagues, my family or my friends try to have with me. Everytime I tried to isolate myself away from moments as these, of gossip, I was, of course, judge as I was a freak and not a good friend, daughter, colleague…See? but I always try to change the subject.
I made mistakes, I do them every day. I feel sorry for that and try to replace them with something good, and clean my soul and my counsciousness.
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When we forgive those who have done wrong to us or hurt us, we free ourselves from the ‘burden’ of attracting back the same Karma. If we ask for revenge and ‘return’ the offence, then we feed the Evil and make it bigger.. The circle of consequence, Karma.
Jesus said to turn the other cheek..
Prayer is the way to protect ourselves and by sending thoughts of love and forgiveness to our … enemies, because they act so, in their .. ignorance. ‘They do not know what they are doing’
LOVE,
Thelma
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In front of God, I shall at first tell ” thank you Pierre to hold the door opened for us all ” thank you Lord to have us so much to love, please allow me to find my friends and especially grandma and the priest Paul (who I know, were my guardian angels during my life)
And please have allowed me to know that they were near me, because for this day, I know that I am more afraid and that I can make even more for the others I shall say: where is Jean, I have to sit down near him to speak to him and thank him
I shall say, I am happy to be with you today I shall say, I shall have too the possibility of helping still on earth all these People, adduce me to go there from time to time as the others make it
thank you, to be there
devant Dieu , je dirai d’abord “merci Pierre de tenir la porte ouvert pour nous tous ” merci Seigneur de nous avoir tant aimer , merci de me permettre de retrouver mes amis et surtout mamy et le père Paul ( qui je sais , ont été mes anges gardiens durant ma vie ) et merci de m’avoir permis de savoir qu’ils étaient près de moi , car depuis ce jour , je sais que je n’ai plus peur et que je peux faire encore plus pour les autres
je dirai : où est Jean , je dois m’asseoir près de lui pour lui parler et le remercier
je dirai , je suis heureuse d’être aujourd’hui avec vous
je dirai , aurai-je moi aussi la possibilité d’aider encore sur terre tous ces Hommes , m’autorisez-vous à y passer de temps en temps comme d’autres le font
merci , d’être là
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Very nice story.I always thought how hard is the job of a judge.Even here on earth.Things may be hidden,so,if we cant see the whole,is impossible to label anything.
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“Whenever you are judging your brother,just bear in mind that it is you who are on trial … ”
Completely agree… I myself try never to judge anyone in my life even if his/her fault seems to be obvious. In reality,nearly nothing obvious exists and each crime has a lot of reasons behind him.
It is so easy to judge and so hard-to understand,to help,to feel compassion… But let’s try the second(and the more difficult) path …
Thank you so much.
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Forgiveness instead of judgement…a beautiful key for heaven’s gates.
Thank you
Love
HIldegarde
X
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Hello, it looks like a variation on the previous story with “shoes in the mosque”. This story goes futher than previous one. Though both characters (Al-Fadih and old man) blamed themsleves for creating thiefs (respectively cheaters). Difference is only in the fact, that one of them was aware of happening an evil (and didn’t stop it), the other didn’t know what shall occure.
This stories make more sence when thinking about them together and comparing the difference in the situation.
Many of blog posts (discussion) in the previous story made judgements about the the characters…
Thank you for making me think…
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Prophet Muhammad once said: “No one will die until he makes the same mistake for which he had blamed his brother.”
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The story is just miraculous. That’s all I can say.
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