I feel blessed not to have a lot of people who have done something to me that was hard to forgive. My Christian faith teaches me that I should forgive anyone who has treated me wrong. Therefore, as a Christian I should be able to say that I have forgiven any and all wrongdoing against me. As this is not the case, I suppose God is still working with me.
I should probably forgive somebody for being selfish, manipulative, neglectful, deceitful, and condescending. I should probably forgive them for treating me like sh*t, but I probably won't. I've moved past that incident. It's old news. I don't carry anger like a purse anymore;I'm rather indifferent. However, I won't forget. I think remembering is a necessary self-protection mechanism.
In discussions about forgiveness in bible studies or with friends it was defined as letting someone off the hook for wrongdoing and not holding a grudge. That could easily be arranged with some selective amnesia. Short of that scenario prospects are looking dim.
Oh yes, God is still working with me on the subject of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is hard. The desire to forgive someone I think is easier that the act. You know it's the "right and Christian" thing to do. But they don't have a class on it in school - do they? People tell you to forgive, but I think it is a very few who do it completely - Who give it to God. Even if you say you forgive, you may not wear the grudge like a purse, but when needed can unpack it out of the back closet. You know that little twinge that you can manage to smile through, butthe pain can still be conjured up. I know the feelings all to well and struggle with Forgiveness also. But I think it is better to struggle with it than to not deal with it at all. God knows our heart and will continue to work with us.
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