Moment of Pause

[salixbabylon]

This has always been the hardest thing for me, forgiveness in the true sense of letting go and forgetting about it. The last few lines of this - about forgiving not meaning "approval" but meaning "release" - really speak to me this week.

Comments

[tularia.livejournal.com]

The last lines of this makes the rest of it okay to me. Because you forgive doesn't mean you should forget, nor should you leave the person that harmed you as a fixture in your life. And that so applies to my mother and youngest sister.

[genevieve-1.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this. Not many people can understand the fact that I chose to forgive someone that harmed me in more ways than one can count, but to me, when I did so, such a heavy burden of hate, vengeance, and anger suddenly left me. I will never forget, but I have now moved on. *hugs you*

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

*hug* I felt like a light went on when I read that part. "Oh, so that's how to do it..." :)

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Letting go and moving on - that's the goal. :)

[nilhenwen.livejournal.com]

That's very very true and it's good to think of it like that because there's a lot of times when we think we've forgiven something and then throw it back at the person later. Or even still just hurt over the fact that it even happened. Almost makes me wonder if true forgiveness can ever really be reached on some things.

[jackieville.livejournal.com]

I have always looked at forgiveness as something I do for myself. Bitterness has only hurt me and no one else. Talk about a hard lesson learned.

*squishes you very tightly and loves*

[hammil77.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever realized forgiveness doesn't mean acceptance. It's so hard for me to separate the two. But I think making peace with your pain is a long and arduous battle in some circumstances. One day I'd like to be able to move forward maturely like that.

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

I think like most things, it's a goal to be moving toward, not a state to reach and be finished. We humans and our emotions are imprefect things; my challenge is to accept that and keep trying for more happiness. :)

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

So true. Other people rarely care that you are holding onto anger about them, but it can turn you into a bitter, mean person if you can't find a way to let it go.

*hugs*

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

It is definitely hard work, of the "one step forward, two steps back" variety for me at times. And sometimes all you can do is sit back and let the years pass until the emotional punch is long gone, and realize you forgave something without even noticing... :)

[softbluebuddy.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this. I went to the site and saved it to check out later. I think this applied to me and maybe still does. I had a couple of people in my life that I held grudges against for years for some horrible things. I was at someone's funeral and the preacher talked about forgiveness and letting go. And, right then I did let go and it was as though a weight had lifted from me. It doesn't mean I will ever forget, but it means I am not carrying that pissed off resentment with me every minute of every day.

On the other hand, I know some people who will never forgive and they walk around as the most bitter people you will ever meet.

The route of forgiveness is the one for me.

*hugs*

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

It's so true - the anger only hurts you, in the end. *hug*