Forgiving What You Can't Forget
Here are 5 lessons from the book Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That's Beautiful Again by Lysa TerKeurst:
1. Forgiveness is a journey, not a destination. It takes time to heal from painful memories and to let go of resentment. Don't be discouraged if you don't feel forgiven right away. Just keep moving forward and trust that God is working in your heart.
2. Forgiveness is not about excusing the other person's behavior. It's about releasing yourself from the burden of anger and bitterness. When you forgive, you're not saying that what happened was okay. You're simply saying that you're not going to let it control you anymore.
3. You don't have to forget in order to forgive. In fact, it's often helpful to remember what happened so that you can learn from it and grow. But you don't have to dwell on the past or let it define you.
4. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. It frees you to live a happier and healthier life. When you forgive, you open yourself up to new possibilities and relationships.
5. You can forgive, even if the other person never asks for forgiveness. In fact, you may never even see the other person again. But that doesn't mean you can't forgive them. Forgiveness is about you and your healing, not about the other person.
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