I was listening to a talk about forgiveness on TV the other day and I got that it pays to forgive. If one don’t forgive, the grudge will be expanding and take control of one’s soul. Equanimity and peacefulness will be diminishing from that soul.

Let me share with you a story about one of the greatest forgiveness in history.  

Joseph was his father’s favorite and had a good life until one day, out of jealousy, his brothers threw him into a well. He was picked up by travelers and later sold as slave to an Egyptian Captain of the Guards. Because of Joseph, the Captain was blessed and was very prosperous. He found favor and was promoted to take charge of the family and business affair of the master. This did not last long as one day he was falsely accused by the master’s wife of seducing her. It was the master’s wife who seduced Joseph because he was very handsome and strong. The master knew Joseph was innocence, however he had no choice but to throw Joseph into prison to save his wife from disgrace. During his imprisonment, Joseph helped the King cupbearer, who was also in prison, to interpret his bizarre dream. One day, the King had a strange dream and none of his advisor could interpret his dream. The cupbearer, who was already released from prison, suddenly remembered Joseph and mentioned to the King that Joseph may be able to interpret his dream. Joseph was summoned to the palace and he was able to interpret the King’s dream. Joseph found favor and was appointed as the Prime Minister of Egypt.

Finally, God brought Joseph and his brothers together. At the time Joseph was the King of Egypt. He can take revenge on them but instead he said, “No reproach on you this day, may God forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy”. This is an example of one of the greatest forgiver in history.

Most of the time, I watch action movie. A friend shared what he got after watching “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith. I watched the movie on HBO and was touched, moved and inspired by it. The movie was based on a true story about Chris Gardner. He was a struggling salesman selling little needed bone density scanners while his wife toiled in double shifts to support the family including their young son, Christopher. Chris has a one in twenty chance to get a lucrative full time career as a stock broker but first he has to go through a six month internship without any pay. His wife could not take it anymore and left him. Chris was committed to his work even when the odds become more daunting by the day. He got tax seizure, evicted and homeless.

The difficulties didn’t dampened Chris belief; he survived the six months internships and was offered the lucrative job. He later founded his own brokerage firm and became a millionaire. You can view the trailer below:



What I got is Chris took life a test. He does not put any expectation on the result that he will get. It was okay for him if he was not offered the job. He has already given his best and that’s what matter.

I found that the practice of not putting any expectation but commitment always save me from frustration. I know that I can put up a plan and work my plan. But there’s no guarantee that I will get the desired result. I have no control on what I’ll get, but God. I always feel peaceful inside when I hold to this belief.