Anita Agers-Brooks

International Speaker, Award-Winning Author, Business/Life Coach

  • Meet Anita
    • About Anita
    • My Abundant Purpose Statement
      • Discover Your Abundant Purpose Exercise
    • Anita Brooks’ Mission Statement
    • Anita Brooks’ Bio
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Testimonials
    • Professional Keynote and Session Speaking Topics
    • Women’s Events Keynote and Session Speaker
    • What a Certified Personality Trainer Does
      • Groups and Events Benefiting from Personality Training
      • Purposed Personality™ Parties with Anita Agers Brooks
      • Purposed Personality™ Assessments the Brooks’ Model
    • Speaker’s Kit
    • Speaking Fees
    • Event Presentation Contract Sample
  • Coaching
    • Coaching Testimonials
    • Business Coaching
    • Marriage Coaching
      • Bullet Points for a Happier Home Life
      • Budget Information and Forms
    • Interview and Employment Coaching
    • Brainstorming Guidelines — Tips from a Certified Facilitator
    • Storyboarding for Success
    • Mind Maps: Creative Freedom at Your Fingertips
  • Writing
    • Exceedingly Media Kit
    • New Book Releases
    • Anita Brooks Books
    • Publishing Credits
    • Book Clubs
    • Writing for Hire
    • Anita Brooks Copywriter
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Podcast

Accept Forgiveness

Written by Anita Agers-Brooks Leave a Comment

The paper crinkled as Sandy unwrapped the package she’d had her friend send. She smiled at the beautiful coral streaks shooting from the heart of the creamy clam-shaped seashell. She unfurled brown paper from the tiny vial of sand granules. With a skip in her step, she headed off to work.

Sandy saw her boss walking toward the break room. She tip-toed into his office and carefully laid out the shell, the small bottle of sand, and a card. The words inscribed said, “Please accept this small token as my commitment never to make the same mistake again. We both know I’m not perfect, but I vow to do my best. May these symbols remind you of my sincere sorrow for the money, time, and energy I cost you.”

An hour later, immersed in her work, Sandy didn’t hear the footsteps approaching her desk. “You didn’t need to give me anything.”

Startled, she looked up, “I wanted you to have reminders of my regret.”

“We’ve been over this. All is forgiven. As a matter of fact, I’m forgiving the financial debt too.”

Sandy blanched, “Sir, I didn’t give you the shell and sand so you would…”

“Shhh. If I thought you had, I wouldn’t do this. Just accept my appreciation for your integrity.”

Sandy’s thoughts wrestled against each other. Her boss didn’t know she almost disregarded his directive. He had no idea she planned to pretend she’d forgotten to follow through. And now he wanted to reward her. She felt like a heel, knowing she didn’t deserve his grace.

He patted her on the shoulder and turned to leave.

“Wait. Stop.” Sandy wasn’t sure why she opened her mouth.

He faced her with an unspoken question.

A clammy film skirted Sandy’s lip. Should she debate his mercy, or accept mercy. It all came down to one question. Could Sandy forgive herself?

She ran the fingers on her right hand through her hair, “Thank you. I appreciate your offer, and gratefully accept. I won’t forget it.”

“It’s my pleasure, and thank you for your honesty.”

One of the most difficult challenges many of us face is forgiveness. But often, the hardest person to forgive is me. We know the dark secrets that hide behind our smiling faces and proper behaviors.

Even when we make the right choice in the end, we must slay monstrous temptations before we get there. And that battle convinces us we must be horrible. If we’re focused on the poor choice we almost made, we can’t accept and demonstrate grace with others for good outcomes.

The A in Teshuvah represents our need to accept forgiveness. But we can’t accept from others what we won’t give ourselves. If God says He forgives us, then who are we to say we know better, and shouldn’t be shown mercy?

Freedom from condemnation is a gift — don’t be afraid to open it.

A new day dawns when you practice honesty and acceptance with others and yourself. Tomorrow, we’ll take our final look at Teshuvah, and how it can help us make a big difference in the world around us.

Do you struggle with forgiving yourself? When someone offers you mercy, do you accept with grace?

Hebrews 8:12 (NIV)

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business Expert, Certified Personality Trainer, Communications Specialist, speaker, and writer. She lives in Missouri.

Contact her via www.freshstartfreshfaith.org or anita.freshfaith@gmail.com

20120222-204747.jpg

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Anita

Anita Agers Brooks

Hi, I’m Anita Brooks, and I’m passionate about educating, inspiring, and encouraging today’s influencers. (This means you.) I help individuals and organizations tend their biggest dreams!

I’ve spent over two decades studying human personality, and how it affects everything we do. I’ve been accused of mind-reading, although I’m not truly clairvoyant. 

Professionally and personally, I solve people problems. Through motivating messages, training, and coaching, I’ll show you how to improve communication, develop stronger relationships, improve finances, and find deeper fulfillment.

Pre-Order Now

Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living on Purpose, with Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose

My Gift to You

Books

Couples Personality Assessment
$150.00

Add to cart

Individual Personality Assessment (with certified feedback)
$50.00

Add to cart

Individual Personality Assessment (without certified feedback)
$25.00

Add to cart

C.O.D.E.
$15.00

Add to cart

60 Seconds to a Happier Marriage
$7.94

Add to cart

Getting Through What You Can't Get Over Stories Tips
Autographed Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over
$15.00

Add to cart

First Hired, Last Fired by Anita Agers Brooks
Autographed First Hired, Last Fired: How to Become Irreplaceable in Any Job Market
$15.00

Add to cart

Living Life Defined
Autographed Death Defied, Life Defined: A Miracle Man’s Memoir
$15.00

Add to cart

4×4 Habit Hangup Overhaul
$7.94

Add to cart

One Minute Intervals Foodier Healthier
$7.94

Add to cart

Listen Now

Testimonials

  • "What an inspiring speaker!!! My hope is renewed and my faith restored."
    Sandy, Illinois Women’s Conference
  • "Anita hit me right in the soul and touched beautiful places in my heart. I'm so glad I came!"
    Bridgett, Iowa Women’s Connection
  • “Dynamic. Inspiring. Expert information, researched well and presented in an engaging way.”
    Darren Dake, Founder of Death Investigation Training Academy
  • “Anita brought tears to my eyes. What an amazing opening speaker.”
    Kelly, Missouri Association of Medical Staff Services
  • “Amazing information and great approach.”
    Dana, NMSSMA State Conference
  • “I would recommend Anita to any group who works with people.”
    Joy, Roosevelt Hospital Administrator’s Conference
  • “It does this teacher’s heart good to know students can be moved to tears, inspired to share, and will talk after listening to someone speak. The teachers and administrators were equally touched.”
    Dee Dee, High School Teacher
  • “After speaking to a crowded arena with over 5,000 present in the morning, Anita Brooks drew over 600 students into a packed auditorium at ACU that night. I was blown away by the reaction of students and administrators.”
    Ryan, Abilene Christian University
  • “After hearing Anita speak, something woke up in me today. I feel alive again.”
    Chantal, Oklahoma Leadership Conference
  • “Anita is the most inspiring speaker I’ve ever heard. I feel energized, motivated, and confident that I can make a fresh start. Love the simple, yet practical ideas I came away with. I laughed. I cried. I felt understood.”
    Sherry, Arkansas Women’s Conference
  • “Inspiring message. I was captivated from Anita’s first sentence.”
    Melody, Missouri Women’s Retreat
  • “I laughed, I cried, I learned, and I took lessons home with me.”
    Betty, Leadership Conference
  • “Our ladies are still talking about Anita’s inspiring message, two weeks later.”
    Kathy, Kansas Women’s Retreat
  • “To date, Anita has been the only speaker asked to return as our conference keynote, year after year. There is no doubt that Anita Brooks is one of our absolute favorite speakers.”
    Michelle Lambeth, Executive Director, Missouri Canoe & Floaters Association
  • “Anita Brooks is hands-down one of the best relational business coaches and speakers on the market now. She has a candid ability to address difficult topics and draw out the most important lessons in such a way that inspires greatness from her audience. Her extensive knowledge into the human personality is electrifying. Her material provides you with that “light bulb” moment you wish you would have had long ago.”
    Scott Perkins, President & CEO, First Community National Bank
  • “Anita Brooks helped shape the future of my business. Her insights into the workings of the human mind are a prime tool in our management techniques. Due largely to Anita’s coaching and training with our top managers, we are a leading model for outdoor recreation companies.”
    Jack Sanborn, CEO, Adventures Unlimited, Inc. Florida

© 2021 · Anita Brooks · All Rights Reserved &middot Site Created by Spyder Web Studio