Sand and Stone

"When we hurt each other we should write it down in the sand, so that the winds of forgiveness can make it go away for good. When we help each other we should chisel it in stone, lest we never forget the love of a friend."

- Christian H. Godefroy

Going Over the Bridge

"He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass."

- George Herbert

There is Still Good to Come

"I’m learning that in wrong, even in the worst of all betrayals there is still a good to come, that forgiveness is God’s way of reclaiming the wrong in the world.

It allows the person whose job it is to forgive the chance to grow and change. The wrong, even as evil as it is, can be redeemed in the heart of the forgiver."

- An excerpt from Except Forgiveness by Sarah Markley on her blog The Best Days of My Life (An excellent post! You must go read the rest.)

Can You Admit When You Are Wrong?

"It all comes back to compassion. It seems to be an American trait to want to point the blame at someone else. But if we do that, an "I'm sorry" or an "I forgive you" is never even possible. As adults, one of the best things we can do for children is to admit we are wrong sometimes and ask for forgiveness. This shows far more compassion and grace than proving we were right in the first place ever could."

- A quote from Sand Dollar Shards: A Story of Forgiveness on Michelle's blog Graceful, Faith in the Everyday

Why Do We Need To Forgive?

"Who do we need to forgive? Who do we need to let off the hook? Now let me explain what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not minimizing the hurt. It hurt. Forgiveness is not justifying it, saying it was no big deal. It was a big deal. Forgiveness is not saying it wasn’t wrong. It was wrong. So what is forgiveness? Forgiveness is letting go of the pain and letting go of my right to get even. Why would anybody do that? Mostly for our own sake because we are living in misery the longer we hold onto it."

- Quoted from Resentment Destroys Relationships by Kevin at Shooting the Breeze