Are we required to forgive?

[CatholicFlame]

I and we must always pray "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

This from He who was purest (deserved no pain) and was treated the harshest (was crucified).

 

[D'Ann]

I hope time will heal her wounds. I also hope she can see life more clearly as time goes on. You know, one of the biggest lessons God has taught me in the last few years has been, how NOT to judge others. I use to be very judgemental. I thought that because I hadn't committed a particular sin...say murder, I was better than the murderer. Then I recalled how the Word tells us that if we have committed even ONE sin, we've committed them ALL! That brought me down a few notches. Maybe if my sister realized that she too, is just as much a sinner as my mom, she might feel a bit more compassion. It's so easy to be on our moral high horse, when we think we're perfect.

Exactly. And when we come to realize how our own sins are just as horrible as any other sin, hopefully, we then gain understanding with compassion and mercy and the ability to forgive others and ourselves. Your sister hopefully will come to realize this too as we did.

I use to be judgemental too and sometimes that side of me will surface and then I need to get on my knees and pray for forgiveness. I'm grateful that we always have hope to help us get through those moments that we feel like we have failed God and our family. Sometimes my own imperfections and flaws are so apparent that it stings so deeply because I just wish that I was someone else sometimes. But then I pray and Jesus sweetly comes and comforts me.

 

[Veritas]

Sometimes my own imperfections and flaws are so apparent that it stings so deeply because I just wish that I was someone else sometimes. But then I pray and Jesus sweetly comes and comforts me.

Oh, I've been there, too! The crosses we bear!

 

[Veritas]

Thanks Sis for your patience..Sad your dad didn't practice what he preached and gave your mom a loving example... What do the other fundie bros and sisters say. Do they understand the stand your sis takes. Thanks...peace to you..Kim

I think they understand, but they like myself are not in agreement. Honestly, nothing has been gained in all this. I talked to my mom today and she is very depressed because she usually has a New Year's day football party. She loves to entertain a lot of people. But right now she can't. So we all lose.

 

[faithfulchild]

Seems to me Jesus said,

"You without sin be the first to cast a stone."

If I felt I did not have to forgive another... would I not be a hypocrite reciting the Lord's Prayer?

 

[HisKid1973]

She does realize her choices brought this all on though, correct?

 

[Veritas]

She does realize her choices brought this all on though, correct?

I think you're forgetting that there are two people who make a marriage work, and two to cause it to fail. It's not just her fault. Because I'm not here to trash my father, I won't go into details. As I've said, I'm not taking sides. There's plenty of blame to go around.

 

[HisKid1973]

I think you're forgetting that there are two people who make a marriage work, and two to cause it to fail. It's not just her fault. Because I'm not here to trash my father, I won't go into details. As I've said, I'm not taking sides. There's plenty of blame to go around.

No, I realize they are both to blame...I guess I am just not seeing your sisters fault as being the central issue here as she takes heat for her convictions which stemmed from your parents choices......These are very painful times for a family...I won't bug you anymore but just will pray..Forgiveness will release you from becoming bitter over it....blessings in Christ...Kim

 

[CatholicFlame]

One day I was praying the Lord's prayer I it really dawned on me that I needed to forgive. I asked the Lord to help me to do that. I realized that to forgive or to even want to forgive was a gift of God.

I prayed that I could have the desire to forgive. Wow, and from that comes the forgiving.

But after God helped me, I felt such a peace and lightness come over me by forgiving the person who had hurt me. It was a grace from God.

 

[winsome]

This is a good article on forgiveness by Jimmy Akin, which was published in This Rock magazine: http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0309bt.asp

An excellent article. Thanks for the link.