Well, it wasn't exactly ass over teakettle..there was no tea involved. But...I managed to take a flying leap down the back steps today...nothing broken but a few sore muscles.

I don't know what I was thinking..I'm usually very careful but for some reason, today I thought I was 35 again. I had both my hands full of stuff so of course I couldn't grab the rail, and down I went. Talk about klutz! The cat was miffed cause I disturbed his nap and I'm not sure but I think the dogs were looking out the window laughing.

I got a call from one of the kids today and we were talking about forgiveness...what it is..why we need it, who we give it to...blah, blah, blah.

I've had a lot of experience in this area over the years and there's a couple of things I know for sure. Without it, I find myself in pain. Whether I'm giving it, or asking for it, if its not there, part of me is missing.

The older I get, the easier it is to ask for forgiveness. I must confess, I still struggle with giving it..I can, and I do, often, but not without that inner battle.

Often, I don't even know that I have offended someone and feel no need to ask for forgiveness. That's the sad part. I like to feel that I would never hurt anyone, but of course I do...usually its with my big mouth that I seem to have trouble keeping closed.

My mother and I had a very tenuous relationship, at best. She was not an easy woman to know. I will always be grateful that I spent the last 8 years of her life, getting to know her as a human being, not just a parent.

Thankfully, we reached a point where we were able to forgive one another for all that had passed between us and she died knowing I loved her. I think that was more important to me than it was to her but I have peace of mind now when I remember her. Her forgiveness was a big part of that peace.

So...as it says in the prayer...forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors...

peace.