Will You Forgive and Forget?

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of forgiveness for personal liberation and a better future.

Abstract

The article "Will You Forgive and Forget?" delves into the transformative power of forgiveness, drawing on the wisdom of Lewis B. Smedes, who suggests that forgiveness frees not just the offender but also the one who forgives. It encourages readers to forgive to alleviate their own burdens, gain clarity, and avoid perpetuating cycles of retribution that could lead to greater harm. The author argues that forgiveness does not negate the past but redefines its memory, offering a hopeful outlook for the future. The piece concludes with a reference to the broader impact of forgiveness on society, alluding to the metaphorical blindness that could ensue from an 'eye for an eye' mentality.

Opinions

Forgiveness is portrayed as a means to release oneself from the weight of past grievances and to embrace a lighter, freer existence.
The act of forgiving is seen as a way to clear one's vision, allowing for a more positive and clear-sighted perspective on life.
Forgiveness is considered essential for personal growth, enabling individuals to rise above and become better versions of themselves.
The article suggests that forgiveness can prevent an escalation of conflict, proposing that a cycle of revenge can have detrimental societal consequences.
The author posits that forgiveness transforms the memory of past wrongs into a source of hope for the future, rather than erasing the past altogether.

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. - Lewis B. Smedes

Forgive, for that which you are unwilling to forgive now, you might be guilty of tomorrow.

Forgive, so that you exchange the burden you carry, for lightness and freedom.

Forgive, so that the scales fall off your eyes and you see the world clearer and brighter.

Forgive, so that you give yourself a chance at being the better man or the better woman.

Forgive, so that an eye for an eye wouldn’t leave the whole world blind.

Finally, Lewis Smedes reminds us that forgiving does not erase the bitter past. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past, into a hope for our future.

Will You Forgive and Forget?

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. - Lewis B. Smedes

References

Who Would Have Thought This Was Coming?

You can only predict things after they have happened. — Eugene Ionesco

What Is Your Deal Breaker?

“A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect.” — Ritu Gatourey