forgive

 

If you are alive and breathing, someone has done something that requires your forgiveness. Someone has offended you. Someone has wronged you. Someone has stepped on you or over you or around you on their way to a place you thought you were going with them. Someone has devalued you by their actions or words.

And, now, you are living with the memory of that (or those) wrongs and offensives.

Sometimes, a relationship is strong enough that reconciliation is possible. Sometimes, hearts are pure enough that repentance happens. Sometimes, those events are the result of addiction and amends are made. Sometimes, life-change comes and clarity allows for frank discussion.

But, not always. Maybe, not often.

You don’t have to live with dark clouds hanging over you. Someone else’s inability to consider others is not a limit on your own life. Just because someone else has offended you doesn’t mean that you have to live with resentment or anger or self-doubt or lack of confidence.

You can forgive.

Forgiveness requires only one person. One person who decides they will not live with resentment, but rather, choose a clear conscience and a clear heart. One person who will choose to say, “What that person did hurt me……but I will not hold it against them.” One person who can look beyond the “now” of keeping score and look to the future of moving forward without barriers.

Forgiveness is not saying, “It doesn’t matter.”

It does matter. It does hurt. It does have consequences. BUT, you can let it go. You can allow the other person to have their own journey….without your participation. And without your resentment.

Reconciliation requires more than one person. At least two people need to converse and confess and concur for reconciliation.

Forgiveness, though, only requires one person. One person who will have the conversation with themselves that can end the inner turmoil and move forward.

One person who can muster up the courage to say, “I forgive.”