Dear Shadow,
I
have come to acknowledge you, to thereby remove any power you have held over
me. My prayer has been that the light of God would overtake you, yes destroy
you. My impression was that you were trying to destroy me. I address you today
to say, I forgive you. I now understand you. Instead of praying to God for the
demise of you, I pray and welcome God’s light to engulf me, so that there is no
space for you. Overtake me Lord with your light, that there is no vacancy in
the realm of power given to shadow any longer.
Why
you may ask am I taking this thought: If I continue to despise you, to fear
you, to worry about you, I am only giving you power. I am giving you the power
to torment me, the power to set negativity in motion within the very atmosphere
where I have lost myself. Instead I choose to find myself in the light.
So
shadow know, I will always remember you. You are engraved in me. Every time I
fear opening up and hide feelings in fear of upsetting someone else, I'll
remember you. Every time I constantly apologize for something even if it had
nothing to do with me, I'll remember you. Every time I break down during small
disagreements thinking it will explode to something bigger, I'll remember you.
Every time I think that I am not worthy, or that I am alone, I will remember
you.
The power I have given you
has caused me to suffer at my own doing. You came to do more good than harm,
probably without your knowing. So I am grateful, because of you I am stronger. I am grateful, because of you I have found
that I am worthy of more. I am grateful, because of you I have discovered that
my thoughts matter, that I matter. My palate has grown, I now seek love, joy, I
seek kindness, and I seek an environment of positivity. So thank you shadow for
your part in my growth. Thank you for the peace I have found in acceptance.
(A collaboration of T. Harris and I. Lawrence)
