Lewis B. Smedes - To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you

Welcome to The Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I’m your host, Andrew McGivern, for June 26th. Now, I have two things to bring to your attention this morning. First, it’s Forgiveness Day—a gentle reminder that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick.

And second, it's Watermelon Seed Spitting Week. That’s right. There's an actual week dedicated to launching tiny black missiles from your mouth with wild abandon. Because why not?

So if I spit watermelon seeds on you today... please forgive me. Because that is the kind of day this is. In honor of both of these surprisingly complementary occasions, here’s your quote of the day from Lewis B. Smedes, who once said:

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”

Now let’s talk about that. Forgiveness is one of those things that sounds noble in theory but feels downright impossible in practice. Someone wrongs you, and the last thing you want to do is let them off the hook. But that’s the trick—you’re the one hooked, not them. As Smedes points out, forgiveness isn’t really about the other person. It’s about freeing yourself from the emotional weight of resentment. And what does that have to do with watermelon seeds? Well, think of those little grudges as watermelon seeds stuck in your teeth. Annoying. Uncomfortable. And if you don’t get rid of them, they might even make you frown in the middle of an otherwise sweet moment. So go ahead—spit them out. Literally and figuratively. Today, if someone’s been living rent-free in your mind because of something they did months—or even years—ago, maybe it’s time to mentally gather your strength, take aim, and spit that seed of bitterness far, far away. Bonus points if you do it while eating actual watermelon. That’s it for today. I hope this quote inspires you to let go, lighten up, and maybe even beat your personal seed-spitting record.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now but I’ll be back tomorrow - same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.