I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I water’d it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft, deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veil’d the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretch’d beneath the tree.
- William Blake (1757 – 1827)
But that’s not all…..
Then did compassion from my heart flow,
To this man I called my Foe.
For God alone is Judge and King,
He cares for every living thing.
My knee I bent and said a prayer,
Because my wrath had killed him there.
Let God forgive my hardend heart,
And give my Foe a brand new start.
So with new life, once foe now friend,
Go your way, a new life begin.
From root to leaf this Poison Tree,
With mercy was no more to be.
– at one time or another we were all an enemy to someone. Forgiveness can uproot the poison wrath that dwells in our heart when we feel we have been wronged. With Love and Compassion we are forgiven – so forgive with the same measure in which you want to be forgiven.
Be Blessed and be a Blessing.