What is forgiveness? It is the willingness to put aside your right to resentment, condemnation and revenge towards your offender.
Forgiveness has amazing benefits to the offended and the offender. In this article we shall look at the benefits of forgiveness.
In one way or another, people close to us like our friends, spouses, family members, neighbours or workmates offend us on an almost daily basis. Some of them do it intentionally while some do it unintentionally.
When offended you have all the right to be angry towards your offender. Offences make us feel bitter and at some point, the bitterness in our hearts may suffocate our being making our lives difficult. This hinders our growth in many aspects of life because anger and bitterness eat away our souls and damage our relations with those around us.
Most families currently are dysfunctional due to a lack of forgiveness. If someone chooses to forgive things would have been different. The bitterness that we hold into after being offended results in hatred thus ruining what was once considered a happy family and shattering our dreams. The children are left to suffer the consequences of what was once sweet but are now a bitter pill.
Our families and close relationships play an important part in the development of our self-esteem. We’ve got the opportunity to choose many things in life but Lo! Not our family.
Nothing, no one and no family is perfect. Family relationships are complicated, painful and we are left hurt, restless and having to carry heavy loads of emotional baggage many at times.
To overcome the bitterness in our hearts we have to forgive and forget. This is because;
- Forgiveness is a key factor to finding healing and getting your life together again. Without forgiveness, you remain a victim forever.
- Forgiveness has more to do with you than it has to do with the person who offended you. Forgiveness should always be in our hearts all the time. He who loves surely knows how to forgive for love forgives.
- Forgiveness begins with a choice, not our feelings. Our emotions may not agree with our decisions always but you’ve got to choose to forgive.
- We forgive not because our offenders deserve to be forgiven but because at some point we also need to be forgiven. Never forget this.
- After you’ve been offended, it may not be possible to restore the relationship to its original glory but as you learn to forgive you can learn to let go of the pain.
Always remember that holding on to anger, bitterness and resentment will make your life harder than it is already. Forgiveness is priceless and you can afford it.
# Amazing benefits of forgiving! Forgiveness is the answer to dysfunctional family relationships. Share widely if you like the article.
