Forgiveness is not:
It’s not condoning, accepting, or justifying acts against you and saying what they did was okay.
It’s not enabling them to do it again.
It’s not desperation, pity, or ignorance.
It’s not blindness or tolerance.
It’s not degrading, nor coming from a lack of self-worth or self-respect.
It’s not trusting, and putting yourself into a situation thinking you won’t be hurt again.
It’s not deception, where you believe if you forgive, you are being open and gullible to be hurt again.
It’s not deception, where you believe if you forgive, you are being open and gullible to be hurt again.
What forgiveness IS:
It’s extending to someone, what was extended to you.
It’s giving to someone who doesn’t deserve, what was given to you when you didn’t deserve it either.
It’s telling Jesus, “I see You. I acknowledge what You did. What You gave, and I am going to pass this along as You gave freely, I will also give.”
Forgiveness is love.
It’s humility.
It’s acknowledgment and recognition of Jesus and what was given to you.
And it’s freedom!
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
Standing with you,
Sheila Hollinger
