Favorite Inspirational Quotes

“Cross”

My old man’s a white old man
And my old mother’s black.
If ever I cursed my white old man
I take my curses back.

If ever I cursed my black old mother
And wished she were in hell,
I’m sorry for that evil wish
And now I wish her well.

My old man died in a fine big house
My ma died in a shack.
I wonder where I’m gonna die,
Being neither white or black?

Langston Hughes

I had never heard of Langston Hughes till this poem in Dyer’s book but then I am not a real poetry aficionado. Dyer says he wrote the bulk of his poetry back in the 20s and 30s so you can place this a bit in history.

Dyer used this poem to represent the theme of forgiveness. He also gave a good story for a way to think about this theme. He says any harm done to us, any hurt, is like the bite of a snake. But the venom is what we feel coursing through our veins when we don’t forgive. We poison ourselves by holding onto the grudge, the hurt. We must learn to forgive and that releases the venom from our bodies.

One thing he said that really hits home is about forgiving our parents. We must realize they did the best they could given their knowledge, circumstances, backgrounds and beliefs. Even if we think we would never do things the way they did, then we have learned something from them. We have the choice to realize this and to forgive them, as well as anyone else who has done us wrong. Forgive and be free of the venom.

Tags: motivational