To forgive........

Forgive is a verb defined as ceasing to hold resentment against one.............TO FORGIVE. Forgiveness is a noun defined as the act of forgiving.............OFFERING MY FORGIVENESS. Forgiving is an adjective defined as allowing room for error or weakness and/or willing or able to forgive........THE FORGIVING HEART. To forgive is so POWERFUL, but can only be done by way of the genuine, forgiving heart. You can't halfway forgive someone..........you can't temporarily forgive someone...........you can't pretend like you have forgiven someone........you can't move forward from things of the past without a forgiving heart and a readiness to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt you, no matter how deep the pain. It is most definitely easier to hold a grudge against someone then it is to forgive someone. As I mature more and more each day I realize the true significance of forgiving someone that has wronged me. I have had to come to terms with a lot of hurtful situations in my life and forgiving those who imposed the pain in my heart is NOT an easy task. In fact to truly forgive someone is one of the hardest things I have encountered and had to do in my life. I believe that people harbor pain and reject the thought of forgiveness because they feel once you forgive someone that you have to then bounce back and continue on the venture with that person. I personally don't believe that you have to maintain any kind of friendship/relationship/association after you truly forgive a person that has wronged you. There are people in my past that I had to forgive that probably didn't even know I was holding a grudge years later, and even though I feel they should have KNOWN by their actions why I held a grudge and why it was insanely hard for me to come to that place to forgive them..........it was necessary for me to grow that much more and bury that pain of the past. I was only allowing a burden to sit heavy on my chest by harboring that pain and not choosing to forgive the offender. I don't need any unnecessary burdens through this long journey of life. And maybe you don't believe that person that has wronged you deserves forgiveness from you, but be real...........nobody is perfect and the more ready you are to forgive, the more ready the person or people in your past and future will be ready to forgive you for any pain you may cause or have already caused. I still do not believe we as humans have the ability mentally or emotionally to forget, once we have forgiven the offender, but if you can come to the place to forgive those who have hurt you.........you will feel the release of the weight of a burden off your chest that will be so rejuvenating..................it will cause you to become that much more of a woman or man because you truly have to STEP UP to forgive. So remember..........You can't expect forgiveness if you are never willing to forgive yourself and/or others around you.