Hi, my name is Vaibhavi Goyal, and welcome to Choose Fullness.

Imagine getting fired from your very first job. No warning, just a blunt email telling you that you’re no longer needed—effective immediately. The next day, you’re told to stop by the building to drop off your company gear and pick up your belongings. You take the time to wash and neatly fold the company quarter-zips and polos, placing them carefully in a bag. When you arrive, your boss is waiting for you outside, not to shake your hand or thank you, but to hand over all your things stuffed into a trash bag. A trash bag. That’s how they chose to send you off, after all the effort and time you gave.

Now, you might be wondering why I started with this. But bear with me as I attempt to elaborate.

Every single day, God pours out His love for us. He offers us grace, guidance, and a plan filled with purpose. And yet, we often toss it aside. I say this not to call anyone out, but because I’ve seen it in myself. I make conscious decisions that I know hurt my relationship with God. I ignore His nudges, I give in to pride, I choose comfort over obedience. In essence, I take that divine love, and I put it in a trash bag.

We don’t like to admit it, but we all do this in different ways. And yet, despite it all, God continues to forgive us. He welcomes us back with open arms and continuously reminds us that there is a room for us in His kingdom, specifically with our name on it. I really believe that if God makes intentional room for us, we’re called to do the same for others.

This doesn’t mean we invite people back into our lives without boundaries. Forgiveness isn’t about becoming a doormat, it’s about freeing ourselves. When someone hurts us deeply, we can either hold onto the pain or choose to let it go. I’ve found that the only way I can truly forgive someone is by intentionally making space for them in my heart. Not in my life necessarily, but in a part of my heart where bitterness doesn’t take root.

I’ve come to think of forgiveness like a blueprint—not something that happens instantly, but something we build over time, room by room.

Here’s what that looks like for me and challenge you to try this exercise. I close my eyes and imagine my heart as a big, beautiful house. Full of rooms, each one intentionally crafted and filled with love. I walk up the stairs and find an empty room. I decorate it with care—pictures, furniture, and my favorite flowers. Then I write the name of the person who hurt me on a card and place it on the door. I imagine taking their hand and inviting them into that room because I refuse to let anger take up residence in my heart. I sit with them, tell them I have room for them, and let myself breathe.

You might not feel peace the first time you try it. But the more you practice, the more your heart will shift. What we rehearse, we begin to believe. Forgiveness is a muscle, use it and it will grow.

Sometimes, the pain runs deeper. When that happens, I take time to sit with the emotions first. I ask myself where I feel it—in my chest, my stomach, my throat. I name the emotions and let them have space. Then I try again to imagine the room. Not to forget what happened, but to release myself from the weight of holding onto it.

This is where humility steps in, something I discussed in my last post. It takes humility to admit we’ve been hurt, and even more to let go of our pride and forgive. Humility doesn’t make us weak, it makes us open. Open to healing, to grace, and to transformation. Just as God humbles Himself daily in His endless patience with us, we’re called to mirror that posture.

This may be controversial, but I truly believe that forgiveness can be unconditional. You don’t need someone’s apology to offer it. I believe forgiveness is for you, it’s your healing, your peace. You can hold it quietly in your heart, even if the relationship never gets restored. Even if the other person never knows.

But let me be clear: forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. That’s a different step, one that requires trust, safety, and mutual effort. This is not about inviting harm back into your life. Sometimes reconciliation is not always what is best, especially when coming out of unhealthy and toxic relationships. 

Now to think about it in a different way, consider a time when you really hurt someone. Let yourself feel the weight of it. Imagine walking into their heart and seeing your name on the door of a room. Now, if you’re able, go to them and apologize. Do it with sincerity. And if you can’t, at least apologize in prayer or journaling. They may not be ready to forgive you, and that’s okay. Give them space. Let your apology stand alone, not as a demand for resolution, but as a step toward being better.

And if you do apologize, let it be real. As many have said, “An apology without change is just manipulation.” Ask yourself: do I understand what I did? Do I regret it enough to change? If not, maybe don’t say sorry yet. Reflect longer. Real apologies come with real transformation.

You don’t need to carry bitterness in your heart. You don’t need to stay stuck in resentment. God forgives you every day, even when you toss His love aside. So when someone puts your love in a trash bag, choose to forgive them anyway. Make room in your heart, just like God has made room for you.

You might have to choose it over and over again before it feels true. That’s okay. Keep choosing it. Keep releasing. Because grudges don’t just hurt the people who wronged us—they drain us. Let it go. Your soul is too full for bitterness.

So when someone throws your love away, meet it with grace. Not because they earned it, but because you’ve been shown that kind of grace too. Forgive freely. Make room. And keep building a life where peace lives.

So remember—your glass is full. Whether you see it that way is up to you.