Layers of forgiveness

Forgiving someone or someones is like peeling an onion. There are layers involved. I thought I was okay about forgiving family hurts from my past. I thought that process was years behind me; but recently a few memories came back and I realized that I had been short sighted about some of the wrong things my mother had done when I was a child and a teenager growing up in our dysfunctional household. I had not taken into consideration why she may have fallen into the pattern which demoralized her and others..drinking, sex, etc. And then suddenly I saw her, not as my mother, but as the young widow she was, inexperienced, without a lot of money, wavering in faith, and determined to survive after my father's untimely death. I still don't agree with her choices and how that hurt our family, but now I do understand her better. She is really forgiven now with my whole heart. I know she is with Jesus now many years and look forward to our encounter in the Life to come. God makes all things beautiful in his time.