Forgiveness

Do u think it's important to apologise even if you feel you are not at fault?

Should you accept an apology if you haven't fully forgiven?

Saying ‘Sorry’

‘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 ‘If’ Apology An apology out of duty, but not feeling remorseful

“I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

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.

Accepting an Apology

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.

BBC Programme: ‘The Gift’

‘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

‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’ Proverbs 4:23

‘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

‘There is nothing for me to forgive’

True Father

‘… he overflows with heart. I felt close to him. It made me feel good to be with him”

True Father

‘… his efforts for the reconciliation and unity of the nation … and world peace will last forever.’ Kim Jong-Un

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Peace Starts with Me

Forgiveness is not easy

‘Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.’ Mahatma Gandhi

Accepting the apology can also be hard …

‘… 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

Video: ’A Reflection of One’s Mind’

Apologise with no expectation and forgive wholeheartedly, and unwittingly;

you both shall be free …

‘We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.’

2 Corinthians 6:6