Forgiveness

[pesoto74]

I thought this might be an interesting topic.  One thing that I believe I have learned about forgiveness is that I can let go of the ill-feeling that I have toward another without opening myself up to experience the same treatment from that person that lead to the original ill-feelings.  Like if someone borrows from me and doesn't pay me back I can let go of that, however I also am not going to loan that person money again.  It seems that I see a lot of people who have trouble with that.  They seem to think that forgiveness means that they have to give the person the same chance to wrong them again that lead to the need for forgiveness in the first place.

[Guardian Angel]

I agree.  I can readily forgive a person, but I don't have to stick around for a second dose.....

There is so much bad in the best of us
and so much good in the worst of us
that it doesn't behoove any of us
to talk about the rest of us.
-- Unknown.

[Guardian Angel]

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two
"wolves" inside us all.
 
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
 
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
 
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"
 
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

 
 

 

[Bingo]

How true is that!

[Curt]

   What is the old saying ? - - Fool me once - Shame on you ! Fool me twice - Shame on me !
    I agree that forgiveness has nothing to do with foolishness intrusting someone who has proven untrustwothy ( I.E. - our dear president and his cronies ). This is a fine example of the shame on me concept.

[Guardian Angel]

Amen!

[pesoto74]

One thing I used to see a lot when I was doing counseling is how some people who were being abused used forgiveness over and over again with their abuser.  And how abusers took advantage of forgiveness from their victims.

[Guardian Angel]

Some people forgave so many times it was the death of them.....

[Guardian Angel]

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm . He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.
 
Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
 
After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.? Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?? So Johnny did the dishes.
 
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
 
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's... he finally couldn't stand it any longer.
 
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know.
 
You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."
 
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face. You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing..... He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.    God is at the window.

 
 

 

[Sammy]

Usually I wouldn't post something this controversal for any amount of money. Too many issues to deal with, to many opinions to try to understand and yet one issue does stand out that did  beckon me to plunge right in and post today. It is with deepest respect and admiration that I returned to the Briarpatch under the new "white flag" that was extended. Thank you for allowing us to prove we can live together in harmony and if we disagree we will do it with consideration of the emotions and  feelings of the other posters. I have so many friends on both forums and we can connect and  communicate  in both venues. Thank you again for  inviting us to "begin again"

[Nan]

Lets give this a try. Just needs a background other than white.

Usually I wouldn't post something this controversail for any amount of money. Too many issues to deal with, to many opinions to try to understand and yet one issue does stand out that did  beckon me to plunge right in and post today. It is with deepest respect and admiration that I returned to the Briarpatch under the new "white flag" that was extended. Thank you for allowing us to prove we can live together in harmony and if we disagree we will do it with consideration of the emotions and  feelings of the other posters. I have so many friends on both forums and we can connect and  communicate  in both venues. Thank you again for us to "begin again"

[Nan]

Well that didn't help much.

[Bingo]

The first word is usually.

I read the entire post -- Sammy, love to see you posting -- (about that yellow ....)

[Guardian Angel]

Thanks Nan,  I could just barely make it out when you quoted it.  The old eyes aren't what they used to be.

[SisterLucy]

GA, highlight Sammy's post with your mouse (as if you were going to copy / paste it) and the background (on my PC) turns grey and the text blue and legible!

SL