A lovely post. Absolutely beautiful. Wonderful, noble sentiments that could only come from a true child of Christ. But, I think you are over thinking it. I too have struggled with the forgiveness stuff. I'm am 1000% sure we Christians all have problems with this. When I pray the LORD's prayer and get to the part "Please forgive us as we forgive them that trespass against us" - I always add "Only with your help, Almighty God". I can't forgive, in all the fullness of the word, in my current body - my current state of reality. It's just not realistic. My heart is too sore. It has been broken... and by people that I have loved. I am furious about it. I didn't deserve it. Their behavior has been outrageous. Unacceptable. Yet..... if they said they were sorry, I would forgive them. I really, really would. I am still as mad as hell with them because I still have feelings for them - is the bottom line. I still can't believe they broke my heart and acted in such an awful manner. They were cavalier with my heart. It hurts because they aren't sorry about it. They haven't repented of their actions.

All of God's word involves the key word to salvation.....which is REPENT REPENT REPENT. If the people who have trespassed against me, asked for my forgiveness, I would give it without hesitation. If they were truly sorry for the pain they had caused me - I would be SO grateful for the opportunity to forgive them.

Are we expected to forgive Hitler? Or expect Almighty God to forgive Hitler? He never repented. He never said sorry. I don't believe Almighty God is going to welcome Hitler with open arms, a la the Prodigal Son. Sure - I am using a truly evil person here to make a point but every sin is equal in the eyes of God. A sin is a sin is a sin. Almighty God has told us that He will forgive us IF WE REPENT. If we say we are SORRY. Otherwise, we do NOT receive forgiveness.

All of salvation is rooted in the action of repentance. When we do that, God gives forgiveness. Salvation. Jesus hung on the cross and died for our sins. He didn't do it for people who will never be sorry. For people who will never repent. Forgiveness is conditional upon whole- hearted repentance. Therefore, I have come to believe that I would be overwhelmingly generous with my forgiveness, if the nasties would only say they are truly, truly sorry.

Any other way is totally unrealistic. Unobtainable. No matter how much we try. I do believe that we must pray to have our heartbreak taken away. That we can pray to stop caring so much about it. That we can pray for our bitterness be removed.

Hoping to meet you soon.

Your sister in Christ

Fay

The Heart of the Matter: Forgivness (you know you're singing that song now).