Where Love Heals

We’ve all been hurt at some point, haven’t we? And we’ve all heard the saying, time heals all wounds. I used to believe that—maybe I still do, in part—but I’ve realized something deeper: it’s love that heals wounds.

And when I say love, I also mean forgiveness. Choosing, intentionally, to let go of the pain someone else put on you. To release it, to stop letting it weigh you down. Because what’s the point of staying stuck in the past?

I had a conversation about this with one of my best friends, and he said something that hit me: we hold on because we’re scared of what’s ahead. The unknown terrifies us. And he’s right.

I’m not perfect at letting go. I don’t always live today without dragging yesterday along. I’ve held grudges, carried bitterness, nurtured anger. I’ve carried it, quietly, especially for the four strangers who destroyed me when I was 23 years old.

But I’ve learned to hold it differently. I bottle it. I don’t let anyone see it. I used to think that if I waited long enough, time would erase it all. It doesn’t. Not completely.

We’ve all heard of the f-word. Fear. And we’re all scared of it. We love holding on to things people did. We love bringing up the past in the middle of arguments: “Well, remember when THAT happened?” It’s human nature. It makes us feel strong, gives us power in that moment.

I could spend hours pouring out my thoughts on love and forgiveness. It’s taken me a long time to get here. And believe me, I don’t always follow it. But I believe in unconditional love. I believe in giving as many chances as someone needs. People change; life changes them. I’ve been shown that kind of love, those second chances, and I’m willing to give that too.

Forgiveness is the act of choosing your peace over your pain. It’s letting go of what someone else did to you and refusing to let it hurt you anymore. Forgiveness is strong. It’s bold. It’s like turning your shoulders sideways and threading your way through a crowded sidewalk—you own your space, your movement, your power. It’s your move.

JMS