Forgiveness has been on my mind a lot lately. I went in search of wisdom and thought I’d share some great words from people who have said it much better than I possibly could.
It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. ~ William Blake
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
It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody. ~ Maya Angelou
Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. ~ Mark Twain
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.
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. ~ Lewis B. Smedes
The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
And you know, when you’ve experienced grace and you feel like you’ve been forgiven, you’re a lot more forgiving of other people. You’re a lot more gracious to others. ~ Rick Warren
Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. ~ Paul Boese
The tongue has no bones but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words. ~ Unknown
Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment. ~ Unknown
In order to heal we must first forgive… and sometimes the person we must forgive is ourselves. ~ Mila Bron
If you are angry, I urge you to start the process of forgiveness. If we are not careful, we allow grudges to define us and shape our lives. We must let go of bitterness. Decide to replace anger and resentfulness with love and compassion. Forgive, and move on. Do it so you can truly live.