05/16/2024
8 lessons from the book: "Forgiving What You Can't Forget" by Lysa Terkeurst:
1. True Forgiveness is a Decision, Not Just a Feeling. We often wait for the warm, fuzzy feeling of forgiveness to wash over us. But true forgiveness starts with a choice – to free ourselves from bitterness, even if the wrong was never made right.
2. Forgiveness Benefits YOU the Most. Holding on to hurt poisons us. Forgiveness isn't about condoning someone else's actions, it's about releasing the burden you carry so you can heal. Think of it as setting yourself free from the prison of resentment.
3. You Can't Force Closure. Sometimes those who wronged us never apologize or change. Waiting for them stalls our own healing. Forgiveness doesn't always mean a restored relationship, sometimes it means moving on without their input.
4. Coping Mechanisms Don't Heal. Burying pain through distraction, denial, or pretending things are okay works for a while. But true healing requires bravely facing the hurt and working through the emotions.
5. Revisiting Pain is How You Heal. Facing past hurts feels counterintuitive, but that's where the true work of forgiveness takes place. Examining the wound is how you understand its impact and begin to mend.
6. Forgiveness Doesn't Mean Forgetting. Forgiveness isn't amnesia. It's remembering the past, but letting go of the emotional charge it carries. The memory remains, but it stops dictating your present.
7. Small Steps Still Move You Forward. Forgiveness can feel overwhelming. Instead of trying to tackle it all at once, focus on manageable steps: making the decision, journaling about the pain, saying out loud, "I choose to forgive...".
8. Forgiveness Often Requires Trust in G0d. Sometimes the hurt seems unforgivable. Trusting in a higher purpose, or that G0d sees even what the offender doesn't, can help when your own strength fails.
Book: https://amzn.to/3Wu3f6E
You can also get the audio book for freee. Use the same link to register for the audio book on audible and start enjoying it
