A Simple Gift

Forgiveness is a gift that we give to others, but we must remember that it is also a gift we give ourselves. Forgiveness is also a simple gift. When we forgive someone it doesn’t mean we trust them, love them more or less than before, or that we want to continue or discontinue a relationship with that person. It simply means we release them from any wrong we feel they have inflicted on us. Everything else we think might be attached to forgiveness is added by our interpretation of what forgiveness means, or in some cases, the person we forgive might try to force their interpretation of what our forgiveness should look like. Let’s keep it simple. “I forgive you (or myself). Don’t try to imply anything else.”