What makes it easier for you to forgive someone? How can we forgive people who have hurt us deeply?

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Never say never.

nothing makes it easy to forgive someone. Every time I give forgiveness it is a personal battle. It seems I am skeptical in nature.

I feel very luck to be able to forgive people rather quickly. I like to think of the "bigger picture" and put everything into perspective to help me realize that whatever was done or happened has little significance to the "bigger picture" and there's no use holding a grudge.

I like the story of the monks who were walking along a muddy road when they encountered a woman who was trying to cross the road but couldn't because her silk robes were sure to become muddy. One monk picked her up in his arms, carried her across the road, and set her down on the other side. Both monks then resumed walking in silence. After about 5 miles, one of the monks said to the other, "why did you pick up that woman? You know we're not supposed to touch other people." The other monk answered, "Are you still carrying that woman? I set her down hours ago."

I'm trying to "set the woman down" too. It's not easy but thinking of this parable helps.

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Liz

I really liked that one about the monks that was really nice. I emailed and everything.

Wow, great story about the monks. Forgiveness is sometimes more easily done from a distance... I forgave my ex-husband, but don't deal with him anymore.

That's a good point. Just because we forgive someone doesn't mean we have to be in an ongoing relationship with them. Release is part of forgiveness too.

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Never say never.

that is a great story about the monks. nice post

This is an area that I really struggle with. I seem to "carry" old hurts and anger around (no wonder I feel so weighed down sometimes) I know it is not healthy spritually or physically, but still struggle to let go.