“To err is human, to forgive is divine.” Alexander Pope
Forgiveness is a way of living. It is developing a readiness to forgive: by pardoning others for the little everyday hurts and annoyance; by pardoning ourselves of small things too. Living this way prepares us to handle the more important injuries and blunders. Forgiveness is a decision. It is not a feeling. A decision to forgive is the first step. What happens then depends upon the individual. Forgiveness is taking a risk. It makes me vulnerable. People can begin to deepen relationships if they forgive each other. Forgiveness is accepting an apology. It is graciously to respect the effort of reconciliation, when the hurt is deep and when it is not.
Life can be a jungle. In the work place others might blame us for incompetence and can show us a condescending icy shoulder. At times words or actions may have cut deeper than we ever knew was possible. The reason why we should forgive our enemies is not because we think that someone else is deserving of our favour, but because our lives are driven by the One Who Created us. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever. Pause and ponder, think before you act. Forgive and Forget .If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
True forgiveness is hard to extend because it demands that people let go of something they value- not a piece of jewellery, but pride, a sense of justice as understood by the person concerned, or desire for revenge. We have all heard the famous ‘defence’: I have forgiven but to forget is not easy. On February 25, 1995, Samandar Singh brutally murdered Sr. Rani Maria. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. Sr. Selvi Paul, the sister of the murdered nun, tied Rakhee on his hand and forgave him in 2002. The same was done by her brother and mother in 2003. True example of genuine Christian forgiveness moved the heart of Samnadr Singh and he became a transformed person.
When asked ‘What is forgiveness?’ a little girl gave this lovely reply, “It’s the sweet scent that a flower gives when it is being crushed.”
