When your heart is hurt, do not draw curtains up over yourself. Do not close the play. You do not have to expect a great audience, and still it is for you to give. If not to give, then at least to stay open to receiving.

In questions of the heart, nothing is beyond repair. Repair does not mean to restore. When someone has left you, he doesn't have to return to you. I do not mean that life will be restored to you the way it was before. Under all circumstances, your heart is to remain open. It is your heart that has to be restored. It is your heart I am talking about, not what happened, not what you perceive was done to you.

Life does not always turn out the way you want. Life does not have to turn out the way you want. It is a given that life does not always turn out the way you want. It is you, beloveds, who are to turn out the way you want. Who you are is not at the mercy of circumstances. Who you are is inviolate.

If others' behavior dictates who you are, then you are a victim. Victim is not a role for you to play. The ravages of life are not to undo your God-given right to accept your place in the Universe. The ravages of life are not to dictate the circumference of you. You are to dictate the circumference of you.

You have say over yourself. You don't have say over what others will do or say. They are not your primary concern. The condition of your heart is your primary concern. How wrong someone else is or how right you are is not the issue. It may be the peg you hang your coat on, but the peg is not your coat.

The word forgive is an interesting word. It must mean to give ahead of time. Give before. I think it means to give your heart a chance. No one and nothing is to close your heart. Your heart is to remain open. Forgive yourself for having closed your heart..

If you have closed your heart, and, of course, you have more than once, open it now. Let go of the wrongs and the rights, and set free the love in your heart. Do not hold your love captive. Do not require that a ransom be paid you before you will give your heart. Whether another deserves your love is not a question to ask. Ask yourself if you deserve to love. I say you do.

Nothing has to happen before you can love. Love does not require gifts before love loves. Love does not require reparation or restitution. All love requires is that you let it free. Do not hold the love in your heart hostage.

Let go of your resistance to letting love flow from your heart. There is not supposed to be a dam in your heart. Your heart is meant to flow without obstruction.

You have become used to having your heart start and stop. "Heart, go here," you say. "Heart, don't go there," you say.

Now give different instruction to your heart. Say, "Heart, go everywhere."

Say, “Heart, the very souls whose words or deeds have hurt you the most are the ones you are now to give love to most of all.”

You may say to Me: "How, God, can I love those who have wronged me and hurt my heart?"

Beloveds, you are not to be stymied by what others do. The only way for you is to love. Is there another way?