A big word deserving of a few big gulps. Forgiveness is an action requiring people to swallow their pride, overlook offenses, get over themselves, see others for who they truly are and learn to accept them for such.
There’s a saying you may have heard, ’forgive and forget’. I know what you’re thinking, it’s from the Bible but the Bible does not say those exact words. However, it instructs we forgive seventy times seven, and turn the other cheek. The actual phrase can be found in William Shakespeare’s play, King Lear.
I think we can all agree it’s the ‘forget’ part that is unsettling. We can forgive treacherous, evil, deceptive, overt and obscure offenses but it’s hard to forget. It is good to remember our experiences. Memories help us avoid ditches, hot stovetops, making the same mistakes over and over again.
Rather we choose to forget or not, the power, to me is wrapped up in forgiveness. Holding onto the discourtesy of others effects the offended person more than it does the offender, causing sickness, unrest, anxiety and the inability to move forward, build healthy relationships with others. It robs you of your peace and joy, of the good that is within.
It’s always a good time to forgive. Forgiveness doesn’t mean we continue to accept people’s ill behavior toward. It means we forgive them so that we can move on with our lives and live it to the fullest.–
Real Women. Real Life. Real Talk. 