We are naturally drawn to forgive. It is a part of the emotional process that we possess that strives for us to live in peace. There are times, however, when it seems impossible to forgive as residual emotions stand in the way of truly feeling peace in our hearts. Yesterday’s post explored three essential understandings of the process of forgiveness; today we look at the difference between forgiveness and redemption.
We are also naturally drawn to wanting to be forgiven. Redemption is the act of working towards someone’s forgiveness and when both forgiveness and redemption are working to heal the relationship, our journey to being able to accept someone’s wrongdoing is greatly supported. There are times when a relationship can be repaired through this joint process and reconciliation becomes the goal. It may also be that even with the joint process, it changes the relationship, and knowing that is okay.
Sometimes, we are not afforded the gift of redemption. Through denial or avoidance, the person who has wronged us does not take responsibility for their actions and choices. Although this can slow down the process of being able to forgive, it does not need to impede it. For it is our goal to forgive, so as not to live with the weight of a stone in our heart.
Sometimes we need therapy to process our emotions in order to forgive; we can read books on forgiveness, repeat positive affirmations when feeling especially resentful, we can pray or journal, we can talk to others about how they found forgiveness. No matter our chosen way to achieve it, forgiveness is nothing short of an active process.
We are naturally driven to live with peace; forgiveness is possible.
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Photo credit: http://Photo by Josh Felise on Unsplash
The person that done you wrong needs to say I’m sorry for stealing your clothes or what ever they stole from you so you can find it in your heart. If he or she repents, you forgive him or her. Even if they come to you 7 time and stole from you. and they come back 7 time’s and repents you forgive them.
I think you forgive to redeem yourself. To make it dependent on the wrongdoer is folly in my opinion. They may not ever be sorry and you can’t change another person.
I forgive my mother for treating me harshly and unfairly and twisting the truth and turning against me time and again… she does not believe in God and she is not sorry… she truly believes her twisted version of the truth.
I forgive her for my own sake, for my own heart, and to please God.
I pray that she has peace and forgiveness in her heart so that she is not troubled by our difficult relationship.
Amen
repenting is a small issue next to the realization that God is forgiveness.
Sorry Kristine, I read your entry because I thought you were going to explain the difference between redemption and forgiveness.
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