Are Your Potatoes Heavy? A Story of Forgiveness

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, 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 when driving, and next to their desk at school.

The hassle of lugging this 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!

– from Cranberry Corners – www.grandmalyn.com