Finding Freedom in Forgiveness

How do you forgive someone who falsely sent you to jail for 11 years? You would have to really be one with in yourself and be able to forgive someone so you can be free.  Falsely being in jail for rape can have a toll on a person and miss years of your life on an accusation. In order to find freedom you have to forgive that person.

 Forgiving people who hurt you, because if you don’t they will have power over you. According to Jennifer Thomas-Cannino, in the essay “Finding Freedom in Forgiveness” helping someone free themselves from anger while trying to find peace can help build a strong bond in friendship and forgiveness. Jennifer had picked a man out as the person who had raped her. The man she picked out was a black man Ronald Cotton. Jenifer soon found out 11 years later that the man she identified was not the man who had raped her. The DNA was not a match for Ronald, but was a match for a male in jail that was serving a lesser sentence. When they found the man who allegedly raped Jennifer they had released Ronald from. Ronald forgave Jennifer because they were both victims in this case. Ronald and Jennifer are good friends as of today and live a peaceful life and got rid of all the anger and hate they had though out the years of this case.

I partially feel the same way that Jennifer Thomas-Cannino does with finding freedom and forgiveness. When forgiving someone you can find freedom, even if they falsely accused you of a crime you didn't commit. I believe that you do find freedom and free spirit when you forgive someone because it’s a burden that’s lifted off your heart. When you forgive someone you are letting anger and negative energy release from your body.  I disagree because if I went to jail for 11 years for a crime that I did not commit, I am not sure that I could forgive someone so easily. The understanding of having 11 years taken off of my life just because of an assumption would damage my emotions and heart towards that person. I would forgive, but I would have to take time for the healing process.

That’s why I feel that it’s hard to forgive, but if you take the time to embrace yourself and allow ultra-healing then anything is possible and you can forgive.