LESSON 126.
All that I give is given to myself.
W-pI.126.1. Today's idea, completely alien to the ego and the
thinking of the world, is crucial to the thought reversal that this course will
bring about. 2 If you believed this statement, there would be no problem in
complete forgiveness, certainty of goal, and sure direction. 3 You would
understand the means by which salvation comes to you, and would not hesitate to
use it now.
W-pI.126.2. Let us consider what you do believe, in place of this
idea. 2 It seems to you that other people are apart from you, and able to
behave in ways which have no bearing on your thoughts, nor yours on theirs. 3
Therefore, your attitudes have no effect on them, and their appeals for help
are not in any way related to your own. 4 You further think that they can sin
without affecting your perception of yourself, while you can judge their sin,
and yet remain apart from condemnation and at peace.
W-pI.126.3. When you 'forgive' a sin, there is no gain to you
directly. 2 You give charity to one unworthy, merely to point out that you are
better, on a higher plane than he whom you forgive. 3 He has not earned your
charitable tolerance, which you bestow on one unworthy of the gift, because his
sins have lowered him beneath a true equality with you. 4 He has no claim on
your forgiveness. 5 It holds out a gift to him, but hardly to yourself.
W-pI.126.4. Thus is forgiveness basically unsound; a charitable whim,
benevolent yet undeserved, a gift bestowed at times, at other times withheld. 2
Unmerited, withholding it is just, nor is it fair that you should suffer when
it is withheld. 3 The sin that you forgive is not your own. 4 Someone apart
from you committed it. 5 And if you then are gracious unto him by giving him
what he does not deserve, the gift is no more yours than was his sin.
W-pI.126.5. If this be true, forgiveness has no grounds on which
to rest dependably and sure. 2 It is an eccentricity, in which you sometimes
choose to give indulgently an undeserved reprieve. 3 Yet it remains your right
to let the sinner not escape the justified repayment for his sin. 4 Think you
the Lord of Heaven would allow the world's salvation to depend on this? 5 Would
not His care for you be small indeed, if your salvation rested on a whim?
W-pI.126.6. You do not understand forgiveness. 2 As you see it, it
is but a check upon overt attack, without requiring correction in your mind. 3
It cannot give you peace as you perceive it. 4 It is not a means for your
release from what you see in someone other than yourself. 5 It has no power to
restore your unity with him to your awareness. 6 It is not what God intended it
to be for you.
W-pI.126.7. Not having given Him the gift He asks of you, you
cannot recognize His gifts, and think He has not given them to you. 2 Yet would
He ask you for a gift unless it was for you? 3 Could He be satisfied with empty
gestures, and evaluate such petty gifts as worthy of His Son? 4 Salvation is a better
gift than this. 5 And true forgiveness, as the means by which it is attained,
must heal the mind that gives, for giving is receiving. 6 What remains as
unreceived has not been given, but what has been given must have been received.
W-pI.126.8. Today we try to understand the truth that giver and
receiver are the same. 2 You will need help to make this meaningful, because it
is so alien to the thoughts to which you are accustomed. 3 But the Help you
need is there. 4 Give Him your faith today, and ask Him that He share your
practicing in truth today. 5 And if you only catch a tiny glimpse of the
release that lies in the idea we practice for today, this is a day of glory for
the world.
W-pI.126.9. Give fifteen minutes twice today to the attempt to
understand today's idea. 2 It is the thought by which forgiveness takes its
proper place in your priorities. 3 It is the thought that will release your
mind from every bar to what forgiveness means, and let you realize its worth to
you.
W-pI.126.10. In silence, close your eyes upon the world that does
not understand forgiveness, and seek sanctuary in the quiet place where
thoughts are changed and false beliefs laid by. 2 Repeat today's idea, and ask
for help in understanding what it really means. 3 Be willing to be taught. 4 Be
glad to hear the Voice of truth and healing speak to you, and you will
understand the words He speaks, and recognize He speaks your words to you.
W-pI.126.11. As often as you can, remind yourself you have a goal
today; an aim which makes this day of special value to yourself and all your
brothers. 2 Do not let your mind forget this goal for long, but tell yourself:
3 All that I give is given to myself. 4 The Help I need to learn
that this is true is with me now. 5 And I will trust in Him.
6 Then spend a quiet moment, opening your mind to His correction
and His Love. 7 And what you hear of Him you will believe, for what He gives
will be received by you.
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