Forgiveness

There seems to be a huge controversy over what forgiveness is. Again, this is my opinion and take it for what it's worth. Michael Langley says he has forgiven Christopher Emmett for murdering his father. I believe that kind of forgiveness doesn't mean he's "okay" with the murder. It means he's willing to move on and to let it go. The time for seeking revenge is past.

Forgiveness is NOT saying, "It's okay that you did what you did."

Forgiveness is NOT saying, "What you did was horrible, but now that I think about it, it's okay."

Forgiveness is NOT approval of, condoning of or accepting of anything or anyone.

Forgiveness is letting go of the hate, the fear, the anger the feelings and thoughts about what happened and going on with your life. It means you're not going to drag that hate, that animosity, that fear, that spite, that lust for revenge around with you any more. You're dropping the baggage at the station and getting on with your life. You have/are grieving what is lost and are healing.

Forgiveness means you're letting go of what happened and you're moving forward. For Christians, God describes the forgiveness of sins as the "setting it aside as far as the east is from the west." He lets it go.

Whatever spiritual path a person follows - forgiveness is simply about letting go. You are not any less a person for forgiving. Forgiveness opens the door to change.