It just had happened to me recently that I was touched by forgiveness, not by someone to me, or even me to someone else, but I to myself.

I accidentally had caused great injury to our beloved pet, Bruce, where he had lost the tip of his tail down to the bone in our entry door. I felt terribly sorry and even for a second denied it. Instead of staying there, I instantly forgave myself and moved ahead by taking him in for surgery and help.

I am comforted to know that forgiveness is given and asked for wherever we look, and we see it everyday in the papers and on the news. People believe in forgiveness.

All the prophets of God give us divine instruction on forgiveness. Jesus Christ taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer, wherein it says "and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." He commands us to return good for evil, so if a man is struck by another and if he pardons and forgives him, if he acts in a manner contrary to that which has been used toward him, this is praiseworthy. He has shown the greatest mercy and is worthy of admiration.

The Prophet Muhammad in the Qur'an also gives us instruction on forgiveness. "To those who do wrong out of ignorance, then repeat and correct themselves, your Lord is indeed forgiving and kind."

In the Baha'i Faith we are given more explicit divine instruction on living. "There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if ye look toward the people themselves. But if you look toward God, you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy. Therefore, do not look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the sight of forgiveness."

In another Baha'i writing it says: "Act in such a way that your heart may be free from hatred. Let not your heart be offended with anyone. If someone commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive him."

So what does "forgive" really mean? Its definition is "to cease to feel resentful." We are asked to do it instantly and not during a period of years; for some of us that can take great effort and courage.

One of the special infinite gifts of this dispensation is that children can intercede on behalf of their parents. Parents endure great trouble and hardship for their children and rarely does it happen that they see the reward of their care before they pass on to the other world. Therefore, in return for this care, we are asked to show charity and kindness, and ask for pardon and forgiveness for our parents. As here, and likewise in the other world, their existence is capable of making progress through our prayers.

Love, unity, forgiveness and a "sin-covering eye" govern the relationship of God's creatures one to another. Once we grasp this we will get along much better and lead much happier lives because of it.

Mary Bratz is secretary of the Baha'is of Portage County.