Levels of Forgiveness

As I have worked with people, I have noted that few of us would say that we are good at the process of forgiveness. It certainly does not come easy, in spite of the fact that we find we need to either give it or receive it almost every day. Notice I am calling it a process. By definition, forgiveness is the process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation, or anger for a perceived offense, sin, or mistake, and ceasing to demand punishment, revenge, or restitution in return. We...
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As I have worked with people, I have noted that few of us would say that we are good at the process of forgiveness. It certainly does not come easy, in spite of the fact that we find we need to either give it or receive it almost every day. Notice I am calling it a process. By definition, forgiveness is the process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation, or anger for a perceived offense, sin, or mistake, and ceasing to demand punishment, revenge, or restitution in return. We usually begin this process as an act of obedience at a head level, doing what we know to be right and biblical. We do it because Jesus said we should. The goal, however, is to get to the place where we do it for the offender¿s sake, with God¿s love flowing through our hearts.