The Value of Forgiveness

Is there someone who has done you a wrong, in some way, and whom you just can’t forgive? Have you, yourself, done things that you can’t forgive? In this post from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle, he talks about the personal importance of forgiveness.

The Value of Forgiveness

Many people throughout the ages have spoken of the virtues of forgiveness. Today, I want to add my voice to theirs, and perhaps a special twist.

Against whom are you carrying a grudge? Is there someone who has done you a wrong, in some way, and whom you just can’t forgive? Have you, yourself, done things that you can’t forgive? Today I hope to impress upon you the incredible damage you can do to yourself, if you don’t let go of these hurts. You must learn to forgive and forget.

Confucius said that, “To be wronged is nothing unless you remember it.” He was absolutely right, and here’s why. Every time you remember something bad that happens to you, some wrong that was done to you, you feel those bad feelings all over again. You record the event in the neuron structure of your brain, and it plants itself in your subconscious.

Now your subconscious doesn’t know the difference between a vividly imagined or remembered event and the real thing. It is all “real” to your subconscious. When you subject yourself over and over again to painful, angry memories, eventually your system begins to break down. The poison of the not forgiven hurt and anger attacks you from the inside out.

12-step programs emphasize the importance of forgiveness, because they recognize that forgiveness is the key to action and freedom. Jesus forgave those who crucified him while he was still on the cross. When you forgive, you open yourself to wonderful new possibilities. Why not begin today? I know you can.

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute

As Christians we’re taught to forgive others freely. It is an essential part of our faith. But it isn’t always easy to genuinely forgive those who have wronged us; and, in my experience, probably harder still to forgive ourself when we have done wrong. In this post, Lou Tice looks at things from a different angle, and talks about the harm we can do to ourselves by withholding forgiveness.

I think this is an important aspect of forgiveness. We can do ourselves a great deal of harm by withholding forgiveness from others as well as from ourselves. Our Lord put it at the centre of our faith for a reason.

Another great post from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle. His posts are always a great help, and encourage me to think differently about things: If you think you might be helped by reading many more of them, do please consider subscribing for the daily emails yourself.