The famous saying: "To err is human, to forgive is divine". Therefore it is logical to wonder, why is it divine to forgive? What makes forgiving an action comparable to God's way of thinking?
We define forgiveness as the ability to leave behind whatever kind of situation that may be harmful or destructive for our mental, physical or social sanity, holding no grudge, resentment or vengeful thoughts against that person, regardless of whether they deserve it, or not. We could say that being merciful and forgiving can heal your soul and can help you move forward, towards a better future.
Those who are able to forgive are much more responsible and satisfied inside than those who keep grudges against others and develop feelings of enmity. The feeling of anguish, hate and uncertainty only results in fights, mistreatments and war in certain cases. Those who forgive help create a better world by spreading good vibes.
How would the world be today if we had been loving, merciful and full of empathy toward each other? How many wars could have been avoided, how many people would be alive? Those are painful questions for one to make, but at the same time they are very much needed, because sometimes, the best way to learn and not repeat negative behaviors is through pain and regret.
Now let's talk about something controversial: Is forgiveness always justified?
Must we forget thieves, terrorist who commit hundreds of killings, rapist who ruin several lives, and people who hurt our society's values?
The answer is no. Although forgiveness is positive, in cases involving these kinds of people, forgiveness is not a word we should think about. People who dare to sin consciously, with no signs of regrets, do not deserve earthly forgiveness and they shall be judged by the almighty.
If the ones you love betray you, it is hard to forgive, it is hard to forget. In most cases, the ease or difficulty of your forgiveness depends on how much your trust was bruised, but it is true than the easily we forgive, it is less likely for us to develop negative feelings of hatred towards the other individual. Our resentment will only break relationships and give the other person the moral and spiritual advantage. By forgiving, you acquire a strength which is called emotional balance.
By Luis Melo, Step 10 Blue.