A teacher once told each of her students to bring a clear
plastic bag and a sack of potatoes to school. For every
person they refused to forgive in their life's experience, they
chose a potato, wrote on it the name and date, and put it
in the plastic bag. Some of their bags were quite heavy.
They were then told to carry this bag with them everywhere
for one week, putting it beside their bed at night, on the car
seat by them, next to their desk.
The hassle of lugging this around with them made it clear
what a weight they were carrying spiritually, and how they
had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget and keep
leaving it in embarrassing places. 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 it clearly is for ourselves!
Author Unknown