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The Four “Gives” of Forgiveness
What are the four signs of true forgiveness?
It isn’t easy to forgive, especially if we have been hurt deeply.
Yet being a Christian means that we should learn how to forgive. Even in the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to forgive us as we also forgive those who trespass against us. Haven’t we all been taught to turn the other cheek?
Sometimes we say that we have already forgiven someone, but only because such a person has admitted his wrongs and sincerely apologized to us. But what if the people who sinned against us failed to do so? How do we even start to forgive?
One morning, after prayer, I realized that the word “forgiveness” itself contains the word “give”. And this seems to be a clue to find out the true meaning of the word.
When we forgive, it also means that we have to “give” something. We give up, let go or surrender something along the way.
Here are some of the things we should consider when forgiving someone:
1. Give up revenge
This is the first thing we must remember when we forgive someone who has offended us.
Even if it feels as though we have been wronged too deeply, and even if it seems all…