Over the years they have lashed out, they have scoffed, they have scorned, they have ridiculed, they have made fun of, they have lied, and they have lost.
They lost so many things, they lost friendships, they lost opportunities, they lost family, they lost parts of their humanity, they lost sight of what it means to live life.
They are just shadows of what they could have been. They do not understand what forgiveness truly means. Through all of the ridicule, name-calling, lies, and scorn...My family and I were learning how to frankly forgive. They have never understood what the term forgiveness means. What they did was wrong and not ok. The false assumptions about nonexistent issues, the lies on court documents, the slander to people around the community, Not ok and Not pardoned.
I believe in a God who knows all, who knows our heart's intentions, who knows our actions done in private as well as public, I believe in a God who will one day bring this to an end. But until that day, my family will continue to not be blinded by hate. We have chosen forgiveness and because of that, our lives shine brighter, we are happier, and we are living life to the fullest.
"The bottom line is the people who hurt [us] will always be responsible for the pain and hurt they caused, and it's never going to be OK. They can be forgiven, though, if [one] define(s) forgiveness thus: the process of letting go of the hurt, pain, hate, and anger that holds [one] captive around an offense and causes [one] further suffering. Forgiveness is not about pardoning the guilty; it is not about saying it's OK that they hurt you. Forgiveness is about choosing not to live in an energy of hate and angst toward this person anymore because it diminishes the quality of [one's] life." -Coach Kim
