The Art of Forgiving

The most creative power given to the human spirit is the power
to heal the wounds of a past it cannot change.

We do our forgiving alone inside our hearts and minds; what
happens to the people we forgive depends on them.

The first person to benefit from forgiving is the one who
forgives.

Forgiving happens in three stages: we rediscover the
humanity of the person who wronged us; we surrender
our right to get even; and we wish that person well.

Forgiving is a journey; the deeper the wound, the longer
the journey.

Forgiving does not require us to reunite with the person
who broke our trust.

We do not forgive because we are supposed to; we forgive
when we are ready to be healed.

Waiting for someone to repent before we forgive is to
surrender our future to the person who wronged us.

Forgiving is not a way to avoid pain but to heal the pain.

Forgiving someone who breaks a trust does not mean
that we give him his job back.

Forgiving is the only way to be fair to ourselves.

Forgivers are not doormats; to forgive a person is not a
signal that we are willing to put up with what he or she does.

Forgiving is essential; talking about it is optional.

When we forgive, we set a prisoner free and discover that
the prisoner we set free is ourselves.

When we forgive we walk in stride with our forgiving God.


Author: Unknown