Newsletter for December 6, 2024

Forgiveness

Why is forgiveness so hard for people? I know that I have had a very hard time forgiving others in my life and I believe in the end it has hurt me more.

When I saw that President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter, it didn’t surprise me or anger me at all. It was a human moment for the President. In the end wouldn’t we all pardon our child? I know if the roles were reversed, and I was the President and my child battled addiction I would pardon my child. I know that Hunter is a broken soul. He has battled addiction for years, in fact probably his entire life.

Hunter lost his mother and sister in a horrendous car accident in which they both were killed. He was 3 years old and was in the car, but he and his brother Beau lived. The event was very traumatizing, Hunter walked away from the accident, but he had a brain injury. Again traumatizing.

Then when Hunter was 45 his brother Beau passed away from Brain Cancer!

And you wonder why the President has such a soft spot for his child! Hunter is his only living child from his marriage with his wife Neilia Hunter Biden. Side note - I see that Hunter was named after his mom; her maiden name was Hunter.

His son Hunter battles the disease of addiction and speaking as an addict it isn’t an easy disease to battle. Insurance refers to the addict as “mentally ill”. I can attest to that; our brains are wired differently: especially if one has as much trauma as Hunter has.

Self-forgiveness is very hard for the addict. We are constantly looking back, “Who did I hurt: why did I pick up again?” And “I hate who I am and what I have done”. That constant nagging in our head and heart leads us back to our drug of choice. I do not think that Hunter is necessarily a bad person, but he makes bad choices when he is inactive addiction. His father just wants to love his son and wants his son to love himself. Hence, he did what every parent would do and that is save his son from going to prison. I don’t think the President had any choice. He had to doit for Hunter and his late wife. His conscience wouldn’t allow his son to sit in jail.

He has forgiven his son! I know he prays daily that his son gets better and if keeping him out of prison will do that, he would do it time and time again. Was the President’s decision best for Hunter? I believe probably not but I am not his parent nor God. Why? Because maybe Hunter needs to go to prison. It may be what in the end helps him. But again, I am not God nor his parent.  

The shame Hunter endures is something that I can relate to personally. I have carried shame, I think, for my entire life….it is so hard to let go of who I used to be. In our Bible study this past Sunday we spoke a lot about shame.

We are going through Father Mike Schmitz’s study about Advent called Face to Face.

Here is the link, Check out this plan: Face to Face: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz

https://link.ascension-app.com/YRkziPco0Ob

and if you want to join us on Sunday at 4pm EST here is the Zoom link:

Elizabeth Chance is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99639666634?pwd=ozrdGl76vcanL6ma3SpcFbza7bc85k.1
Meeting ID: 996 3966 6634
Passcode:831422.

What I found so interesting is that Father has urged the listeners to “step out from our shame”.He also spoke about anxiety and brokenness. It was very thought provoking. Our conversations were raw. We all carry shame. Unfortunately, shame grows when we keep our secrets inside of ourselves and we don’t share them. The isolation and self-loathing help to keep the shame growing and our personal sadness stick!

Rather than keeping your secrets it is time to let yourself be seen! Forgive yourself!

God has already forgiven you! God loves you more than I could ever express in words. But God’s love is always there, he knows who we are! All the lies and hurts he is already aware of! He knows, so who cares what other humans think about you? Friends come and go and so does family for that matter. So why not just be you!

Let your true self shine with all your heart

I believe forgiveness takes work! Speaking to a therapist, a priest, a sponsor or doing the 12 steps from Alcoholics Anonymous can help you get to the place where you no longer regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.

My personal shame lingers at times, but I am continually working on myself. It isn’t easy but getting closer to God and our Blessed Mother Mary has helped more than I can describe. I know God loves me and you! Our egos are so big that we think that we are unforgivable people but that isn’t true! I love the acronym of EGO, easing God out. God has forgiven us, and it is time to forgive ourselves.

Get to work.

Love you all and thank you for reading.

XO

Elizabeth akaBizzy

If you have a story you would like to share let me know, elizabeth@elizabethchance.com I would love to have you on. My new hashtag #ConversationsWithBizzy.