Sunday, December 20, 2015

December 20: Writing Prompt #354-Forgive and Forget?

Share a story where it was very difficult for you to forgive the perpetrator for wronging you, but you did it — you forgave them.

This would be the story of my dad and me.  In the first 23 years of my parent’s marriage, my dad made a few selfish choices, which caused anguish for my mom and an eventual break in their marriage (for a while). My mom and I developed a very close relationship after this, when it was just the two of us, and during this time, I also developed a hearty bitterness towards my dad.  Over the years, I tried to forgive him, and for awhile, I even thought I had, but it took a few more years to realize that I still hadn’t totally let the wrongs go.  I am so happy to say now that forgiveness no longer eludes me.  I feel no ill will or bitterness toward my father in the slightest anymore.  And what did it take for me to finally forgive…well, it took a lot of time as well as a healthy dose of maturity on my part.  I had to make a lot of my own mistakes and selfish choices to realize that my dad is just human, like me, and if I can’t forgive him, how could I ever expect to be forgiven myself for my wrongs?  I can’t, so forgiveness is the only answer when there is any bitterness in your heart.

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