Forgive or Not to Forgive, That is the Question?

Emotions run wild and nothing can stop this feeling of hurt. The feeling of what this pain brings. Your eyes begin to turn red, that wonderful smile is suddenly upside down, and the unbelievable water that runs down your face cannot be suppressed or disguised. This is what happens when that special someone or a person you love or care about very dearly hurts you. What do you do when the tables have turned and you are the person who decides to hurt someone? How do you feel then? The only thing left to be done is apologize, but is it always accepted? Forgiveness is the hardest thing to do amongst people and will always be. Forgive means to excuse for a fault or an offense, and to renounce anger or resentment against. Forgiveness is that type of word that really does not mean what it used to. It is plainly said by most individuals to acknowledge the fact that an apology was said.
Forgiveness is suppose to mean whatever that has happened in the past can stay in the past. Strictly to forgive is to grant pardon without harboring resentment. So when someone tells you that they forgive you or if you forgive someone this is what it should mean. As you forgive you are condoning the wrong doer, overlooking what was done wrong and often suggests tacit forgiveness. Things always don’t come so easy. Dr. Carl Thorensen of Stanford University said it, “It takes courage and commitment to act in a more forgiving fashion. It is not all a sign of weakness but a mark of strength.” Forgiving means to let go of the anger and hurt because you truly do realize that a person is honestly sorry.
It really does take a lot of courage and commitment to forgive someone and to keep moving on continually. And if anything you will become more stronger for the simple fact that you as a person was willing to be a bigger person an forgive of a malevolent doings. When certain circumstances come into play people can only forgive to a certain point. Even if you are forgiven for your malicious behavior does that person always forgive. Fredrick DiBlasio, Ph. D., at the University of Maryland proposes:
To show that forgiveness is an act of the will, a choice to let go or to hold. Forgiving is a decision-based procedure that empowers people and can promote harmony in relationships, peace within the self, and, for believing clients, serenity with God. This study will utilize parents and their adult children, and marital couples.(10-11)
The word forgive can be closely related to three words excuse, pardon and condone. These three words can be used as a conventional way of apology. Pardon implies release from the penalty entailed by an offense. Excuse can also imply the ability to pas over a mistake or fault with demanding scorn or redress. The utterance condone in addition is also the ability to overlook an offense, and usually a serious one.
Most people do not understand that no forgiveness results in constant revenge and madness. Evil hangs around our heads on our daily walks and dwell in our hearts during simple activities in our lives. Forgiving can heal individuals mentally and spiritual. Why is it that we cannot forgive, like our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Work Cited List
Thorensen, Dr. Carl, "frogiving," http://www.forgiving.org/Campaign/research_family.asp, March 1, 2004

Diblasio, Frederick, "Decision-based Forgiveness in Marital and Intergenerational Family Relationships", http://www.forgiving.org/Campaign/research_family.asp March 1, 2004


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