Forgiveness - Do We Forget?

Forgiveness is one of the spiritual attributes that must be utilized all the time. I often hear people exclaim, I can forgive but I won't forget. What I have found in my experience is that if you chose to forgive, God will assist you in forgetting. We are not cut to forgive. We are human beings with human reactions to life and forgiveness is not one of them. Our initial response to an offense is retaliate and to make someone hurt as much as we hurt; whether that offense is imagined or actual. If you live long enough, you will hurt people and they will hurt you. How do you deal with needing to be forgiven. Do you believe that the person should understand that "you didn't mean it." Or if you would have had more information and just waited a little while you would not have reacted the way that you did - a need for forgiveness. I know of experiences where people have reacted on misinformation and lives were lost. There is no recouping life once it is gone. We must live our lives as though we know that we will constantly fall short and the same forgiveness we need - we must be willing to give it others.

Too many family members are estranged, church members don't speak to one another, co-workers are holding grudges and everyone feels entitled to their posture to not forgive. Unforgiveness is not a right it is an imprisonment. You hold yourself hostage when you choose not to forgive. So may I suggest, that today you practice forgiveness and don't try to change anything just forgive like you want to be forgiven and I promise you life will get lighter.