Comments on: Is forgiveness hard to do? http://www.clearpathtopeace.com/forgiveness/is-forgiveness-hard-to-do/ Exploring the connections between forgiveness, inner peace and outer peace Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:04:28 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Merrill http://www.clearpathtopeace.com/forgiveness/is-forgiveness-hard-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9295 Merrill Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:34:01 +0000 http://www.clearpathtopeace.com/forgiveness/is-forgiveness-hard-to-do/#comment-9295 I feel that you are using the word forgiveness in the wrong sense. Forgive means to erase, it never happened. However, if my neighbor came over and was having a bad day, kicked over my garden and walked away . . . gee, I have no reason to believe that he will not do that again. No reason at all. In fact, I now have a reason to protect my garden from him. His action caused a "wall" in our relationship. My forgiving him for his action will not tear down that "wall". Now I must be cautious in a place where I was once not. I love tomatoes. Now I have none to share with my friends . . or my neighbor. Next time I must plant my garden where he cannot see. Wisdom to know the difference between what you can and cannot change. That's all you can really have. That, to me, is the true essence of forgiveness. I feel that you are using the word forgiveness in the wrong sense.

Forgive means to erase, it never happened. However, if my neighbor came over and was having a bad day, kicked over my garden and walked away . . . gee, I have no reason to believe that he will not do that again. No reason at all. In fact, I now have a reason to protect my garden from him.

His action caused a “wall” in our relationship. My forgiving him for his action will not tear down that “wall”. Now I must be cautious in a place where I was once not. I love tomatoes. Now I have none to share with my friends . . or my neighbor. Next time I must plant my garden where he cannot see.

Wisdom to know the difference between what you can and cannot change. That’s all you can really have. That, to me, is the true essence of forgiveness.

]]> By: Ana http://www.clearpathtopeace.com/forgiveness/is-forgiveness-hard-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-3474 Ana Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:09:41 +0000 http://www.clearpathtopeace.com/forgiveness/is-forgiveness-hard-to-do/#comment-3474 Thanks for your post, Randall. I'd just add that very few people forgive because they haven't been shown what the options really are. We all CAN forgive, if we are shown the way, and are willing to do it. Thanks for your post, Randall. I’d just add that very few people forgive because they haven’t been shown what the options really are. We all CAN forgive, if we are shown the way, and are willing to do it.

]]> By: randall butisingh http://www.clearpathtopeace.com/forgiveness/is-forgiveness-hard-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-3454 randall butisingh Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:12:39 +0000 http://www.clearpathtopeace.com/forgiveness/is-forgiveness-hard-to-do/#comment-3454 Ana, you said rightly; It is pride that prevents one from forgiving. It takes humility to forgive. I have heard a professed christian say; "I forgive but I cannot forget. That is not forgiveness. That is bearing a grudge. Once the ego is not subdued, forgiving is impossible. If someone does you a wrong,pity him; he has hurt only himself, not you. So I reiterate that forgiveness is impossible for the one who has not acquired humility which is the string that holds all the virtues together. In short, very few can truly forgive. Ana, you said rightly; It is pride that prevents one from forgiving. It takes humility to forgive. I have heard a professed christian say; “I forgive but I cannot forget. That is not forgiveness. That is bearing a grudge. Once the ego is not subdued, forgiving is impossible. If someone does you a wrong,pity him; he has hurt only himself, not you. So I reiterate that forgiveness is impossible for the one who has not acquired humility which is the string that holds all the virtues together. In short, very few can truly forgive.

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