‘Conditional Apology’ Only given on the condition that the other person accepts it.
Not given freely.
‘Appeasement’ Apology Not truly feeling sorry about
what you have done, but apologising to make peace.
‘Politeness’ Apology Excessive apologising as a way of being polite,
but also of gaining approval. Not wanting to get into a conflict
with anybody.
The ‘Telepathic’ Apology Harbouring guilt about an offence committed towards someone else, but do not saying sorry due to fear of rejection or embarrassment. In your heart you feel repentance, but cannot find the courage to say the words out loud.
The ‘Love’ Apology: A voluntary apology given from the heart, and with the mind to not commit a similar ‘offence’ again. Makes the other feel truly loved and cared for.
Truly understands the hurt caused. May be accompanied by tears of sadness or joy,
and can be deeply cathartic, sometimes even transformative.
The ‘Filing Cabinet’ Acceptance Momentary forgiveness,
bad memories ‘filed away’, brought up and used against other person if you are hurt again.
The ‘Getting Even’ Acceptance Accepting the apology with a feeling of justification.
You did nothing wrong, therefore this makes you even.
A kind of revenge.
The ‘Complete Pardon’ Acceptance Gifting, granting and allowing complete
freedom for the other person, by holding no resentment or wishing any ill upon them.
To remit, to pardon, to release them.
‘Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.’ Marianne Williamson
‘We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.’ Martin Luther King, Jr.
‘At the centre of the prison, where resentments were whirling around, I discovered that it was nothing but love that would enable me to welcome God there.’ True Father
‘I was beaten so hard that the flesh was torn from my body. Today, though, not even the slightest wound remains in my heart. Wounds easily disappear in the presence of true love. Even enemies melt away without a trace in the presence of true love.’ True Father
‘… his efforts for the reconciliation and unity of the nation … and world peace will last forever.’ Kim Jong-Un
‘Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.’ Mahatma Gandhi
‘… if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven
times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.’
Luke 17:3-4