Here are a few thoughts of mine on forgiveness. These are all mine, just reflecting on my feelings on this subject.
1) Forgiveness should be free and unconditional
Forgiveness helps you as an individual. It is good for your health, research bears this out. It is also good for your soul. If you forgive someone you relinquish a world of hurt and you have decided to drop it. It is like holding a bunch of thorns in your hand and when u forgive someone, it's like dropping it! All the pain has gone! You may have some scars, but they will heal in time. The point is, you have gotten rid of the actual hurt Forgiveness is extremely good for your personal growth and maturity, because if you forgive, you are being the bigger person
2)You can forgive without giving "pardon"
if someone were to kill a relative of yours or something equally nasty, I would never imagine that you could pardon that person for their greivance, but you can forgive them, because forgiveness is NOT predicatd upon what the other person does, but rather your attitude and heart! So why not try forgiving someone in your heart today that u were holing on to bitterness for previously?? Why not give someone a second chance today? Why not? No reason is good enough
3)There are different degrees of Hurt
If you have an argument with someone where they say something that hurts you, you will get over it! If they kill your closest friend, it's another matter, PEOPLE, please put things into perspective, because it's the only way to live!
4)Sometimes u just gotta deal with it!
Sometimes you and the other person won't agree! Sometimes, the lights won't change for you, sometimes you're just stuck! Deal with it, forgive, move on, and enjoy your life!
5)If you are a christian, this is for YOU!
OF course, Jesus and the bible have a lot to say about this subject! So why not radically follow this advice?
The following quotations come from the fantastic "Message" translation of the bible
---Matthew 18:18-20
"Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."
A Story About Forgiveness
21At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
22Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
that's 490 by the way, people
---2 corinthians 2:9-11
The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we're not oblivious to his sly ways!
The application here is STOP HOLDING GRUDGES NOW!
---Galatians 6:1-3
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
you are a christian? Great! You better be an expert in forgiving
---Psalm 130:3-4
If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
and that's why you're worshiped.
if u are a christian, why not try to exhibit godly character? FORGIVE!
of course there are thousands of others but, i want to leave you with the scary one :
Mark 11:26 (New King James Version)
"But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
this means folks, u can't call yourself a christian and hold a grudge. It's painful, but so is the truth
anyway the point is
FORGIVE, FORGIVE FORGIVE
sources: this is entirely my own work other than the bible verses (obviously) !
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Fantastic..!!! I agree.
