Forgiveness.

Webster defines forgiveness as "the act of pardoning somebody for a mistake or wrongdoing". Forgiveness. That is a very big idea isn't it? I mean, when you think about forgiveness, most people just think about saying sorry, and someone replying with "that's okay". But how often, when you apologize, do you hear someone say "I forgive you."? Not very often. I don't think people really know what forgiveness is anymore. Maybe they were really never taught. To me, forgiveness is accepting someone's apology, forgetting all about it, and loving them anyways. I try my hardest to do that. I have come to find that when you hold a grudge, it only hurts YOU. You walk around with this grudge weighing so heavy on your heart, and you are doing nothing but making yourself miserable. I have often heard people say (and said it myself.. many times) that the word "sorry" means nothing when you hear it so much. People throw around "sorry" like they throw around beer at a frat party. Does nobody understand the meaning of this word anymore? People say "sorry" not because they feel bad for the mistake that they have made, or how they have hurt you.. but only to shut you up. If you truly care about someone, you will learn how to forgive them. Nobody DESERVES forgiveness. Nobody deserves anything. But I can promise you, forgiving someone is alot easier than hating them forever. The Bible says that if your friend "sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns saying 'I repent', you shall forgive him." We all know that forgiveness is not always easy. When someone hurts you, it isn't easy to put it aside and love them anyways. But for the sake of your own happiness, learn what forgiveness is. And learn how to give it.

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."- Mahatma Gandhi