Yesterday I asked what mercy was and then went on to give you several definitions of mercy. Today I ask you another question that I often find goes hand in hand with mercy, and that is what is forgiveness?
So here’s the dictionary definition of forgiveness:
- the act of forgiving or the state of being forgiven
- willingness to forgive
I also found some similes about forgiveness which I found helpful to increase my understanding:
- Forgiving the unrepentant is like drawing pictures in water — Japanese proverb
- (God) pardons like a mother who kisses away the repentant tears of her child — Henry Ward Beecher
- Forgiving without forgetting is like loving without liking — Anon
Personally I liked the third simile best. i.e. Forgiving without forgetting is like loving without liking.
Forgiveness must come from the heart to be true, that’s why if it doesn’t come from the heart you will find you never truly can put it into the past and forget about it.
The Distinct Dot 