The Very Idea

The very idea of forgiveness has come under so much attack when applied to our everyday hurts and offenses. So much so that the act of forgiveness seems more like an ancient philosophy, social theory, or some abstract concept which remains unproven, untried. Yes our ability; no, I won’t say ability because we are more than able to forgive. We are capable. I’ll say our willingness. Yes, we are most unwilling at times to forgive. So much of what and who we forgive seems to rely on our emotional state. However, we cannot allow our feelings to rule and guide us in this matter.

If we wait until we feel like forgiving, the act of forgiveness might never occur. Forgiveness should be a decision we make despite any emotional strains due to our physical or psychological being. Jesus with nails in his hands and feet asked the Father to forgive all.

You might argue, “Well, that’s love!”

Love, my friend is not an emotion. Emotions are passing. They come and they go. Love is an attitude, a state of mind. Yet, love does influence us in our decision making.

Furthermore, others have claimed; “I may be able to forgive. But I just can’t forget. I’ve been hurt too much to forget.” It’s amazing. There are thoughts, teachings, ideas we claim to be impossible to adhere, believe, or understand. To forgive and forget; some insist that this is impossible to accomplish. However, we achieve forgetfulness everyday.

As children our parents continually had to remind us that whenever anyone did anything nice for us the correct response was to say thank you. Think about it. I mean, really, think about it. People do nice things for us everyday; and we still forget to say thank you. Yet, of all the things we insist that we cannot forget, we dot not recall everyday acts of kindness.

What a sad commentary!

The Greek language defined the action word for ‘forget’ as 'to lose from the mind'.
Today, we would say; let it go.

Let it go.