How heavy are your Potatoes !!!

A high school teacher told her students to bring to school a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. The students are asked to think of all the people who have wronged them, every person that they have judged, every person they could not accept. The names of these people were to be each written on a potato and put in the bag.

Most students had bags that were full and overflowing. They were instructed to carry the bag everywhere with them for one week – including taking into their bed at night. They were never to let the bag out of their sight.

By the end of the week, the students were sick to death of their bag of potatoes. It was annoying having to lug it everywhere. The potatoes started to fester and go mouldy and stinky. The bags were heavy and awkward, weighed the students down and made them miserable.

 The teacher told the students the significance of carrying the potatoes. It was a way to understand the price we pay for holding onto our resentments.

 Fortunately, since the week was over, they were able to put the down their bag of potatoes and get rid of it. The lightness, relief and freedom at doing so was only a taste of what they could feel of letting go of the resentments that each potato represented.

The teacher asked: " I hope you all enjoyed the game. How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for one week?"
The children immediately let out their frustrations and started complaining bitterly of the trouble that they went through carrying the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they went. Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game they played.
He said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week, especially those of you who had plenty of potatoes to carry, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?"

 The hassle of lugging the bag around with them made it clear what a weight they were carrying around spiritually and how  they had to pay attention to it all the time.  Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty smelly slime.  This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity!  Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person and clearly is for ourselves !   Forgiving someone can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life! 

Take the example of the people in  a drug and alcohol treatment center.  One thing  found common in addicts and alcoholics, as with most of us, is that they carried with them the excess baggage of forgiveness.  It makes us sick to harbor anger and forgiveness for someone.  But, you say, they don’t deserve to be forgiven.  You aren’t forgiving them because they deserve it; you are forgiving them because you deserve it.  Forgiveness lets them live rent free in your head and heart, causing you great emotional harm and a huge load of bitterness.  Acknowledge the pain and the hurt they may have caused you, then let it all go.   All you have to be is willing to forgive; God does the rest.  They are no words to describe the joy that will come into your heart, but it is waiting right around the corner for you. 

What do you think? Do you have some potatoes you could let go of? Are they festering? Getting stinky? Weighing you down? Making you miserable?

 Make this your day to forgive!

 Have a happy journey!