Part 1

Undoing the Way We See Things Now

Lesson 68

Love holds no grievances.

You who were created by Love like Itself can hold no grievances and know your Self. To hold a grievance is to forget who you are. To hold a grievance is to see yourself as a body. It is the decision to let the ego rule your mind and to condemn the body to death.

2. Perhaps you do not yet fully realize just what holding grievances does to your awareness. It seems to split you off from your Source and make you unlike Him. Then it makes you believe that He is like what you think you have become, for no one can conceive of his Creator as unlike himself.

3. Shut off from your Self, Which remains aware of Its likeness to Its Creator, your Self seems to sleep, while the part of your mind that weaves illusions in its sleep appears to be awake. Can all this arise from holding grievances? Oh yes! For he who holds grievances denies he was created by Love, and his Creator has become fearful to him in his dreams of hate. Who can dream of hatred and not fear God?

4. It is sure that those who hold grievances will redefine God in their own image as it is certain that God created them like Himself and defined them as part of Him.⁸⁷ It is as sure that those who hold grievances will suffer guilt as it is certain that those who forgive will find peace. It is as sure that those who hold grievances will forget who they are as it is certain that those who forgive will remember. Would you not be willing to relinquish your grievances if you believed all this were so?

5. Perhaps you do not believe that you can let all your grievances go. That, however, is simply a question of motivation. Today we will try to find out how you would feel without them. If we succeed even ever so slightly, there will never be a problem in motivation again.

6. Begin today’s extended practice period by searching your mind for those against whom you hold what you regard as major grievances. Some of these will be quite easy to find. Then think of the seemingly minor grievances you hold against those you like and even think you love. It will quickly become apparent that there is no one against whom you do not cherish grievances of some sort. This has left you alone in all the universe in your perception of yourself.

7. Determine now to see all these people as friends. Say to them all collectively, thinking of each one in turn as you do so:

I would see you as my friend, that I may remember you are part of me, and come to know myself.

8. Spend the remainder of the practice period in thinking of yourself as completely at peace with everyone and everything, safe in a world which protects you and loves you and which you love in return. Try to feel safety surrounding you, hovering over you, and holding you up. Try to believe, however briefly, that nothing can harm you in any way. At the end of the practice period tell yourself:

Love holds no grievances.

When I let all my grievances go,

I will know I am perfectly safe.

9. The short practice periods should include a quick application of today’s idea in this form, whenever any thought of grievance arises against anyone, physically present or not:

Love holds no grievances.

Let me not betray my Self.

In addition, repeat the idea several times an hour in this form:

Love holds no grievances.

I would waken to my Self

By laying all my grievances aside

And wakening in Him.^[1]

[1] A Course in Miracles Complete & Annotated Edition

Footnote 87. Genesis 1:26 (KJV) “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” In the above allusion, we have reversed this and have defined God in our image.

Personal Notes:

Love holds no grievances. Giving love, forgiveness and letting go of grievances always seemed to flow with relative ease for me, was never much of a stumbling block, because of that it was easy for me to overlook that I needed to take a closer look at what God’s Love, Forgiveness, Mercy, actually entailed, all inclusive, not just for our Special relationships and Special set of circumstances. But this Great Love that is offered to us from The Father is for us to give in the same way, just as we are not excluded, so no brother, sister, neighbor, perceived enemy is excluded from our giving of this free gift of Love and forgiveness, we share with All. We are created by God in His likeness and defined as part of Him. To hold any grievances is to forget who we are. I relinquish the ego lies! I receive and give only love and forgiveness that I will not forget who I am and not be separated, but One with God, others, and the world in His Perfect Love, Peace and Safety! Nothing can harm me in anyway. I choose to see all as my friends that are a part of me, that I may know myself. I am completely at peace with everyone and everything, Safe in a world that protects and loves me and that I love. I am thankful for these lessons with the help of Holy Spirit that shined the Light on these hidden parts, half-truths that were in the dark shadows of my mind keeping me from all that God Created me to be. I pray for all my brothers, sisters, and myself for continued guidance, wisdom, discernment, protection and illumination of purpose in The Way, The Truth, The Life in Christ Jesus, Amen. Thank you for sharing with me. Walk in Love my friend!

God is Love

Love is God

I choose Love