A couple nights ago, Dan and I finally were able to sit down and rent Silver Linings Playbook. I know I’ve kind of missed the boat on this one (I’m a new parent, okaaaay?) but, in case you weren’t already aware, it’s a really great movie. For all two of you who haven’t seen it yet, I won’t go into any details, but I will say that Jennifer Lawrence’s character, Tiffany Maxwell, has a lot to teach us in just one quick quote.

[Source]

There will always be a part of me that is dirty and sloppy, but I like that, just like all the other parts of myself. I can forgive.

— Tiffany Maxwell, Silver Linings Playbook

When I heard her scream out this quote to Bradley Cooper’s character, the hair on my arms stood on end. It was so quick but so powerfully moving, because in just one second she acknowledges that yes, she is imperfect, but she has also forgiven herself for that.

The revolutionary thing here is, because I think the biggest obstacle to forgiving ourselves is remembering the ways we are broken, that Tiffany actually uses her brokenness to foster her own healing. She remembers it, and does so with gratitude that she is not there anymore.

And that’s how chains are broken, friends. When we learn to love all the parts of ourselves, even those parts that will forever be “sloppy and dirty”, and learn to forgive.