Forgiveness is a topic that many persons have different views on. There are so many definitions of this word by people from various cultures and localities. Most at times, it extends beyond what we may imagine.

However, we have a perfect example of one who is always forgiving. He is known for forgiving errors, remembering that we are dust. He has not also dealt with us according to what our errors deserve and when he forgives, he never remembers them again but puts them far away from us. Checkout the quotes below

For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive; ... (Psalm 85:5 of the holy scriptures)

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor has he repaid us what our errors deserve. (Psalm 103:10 of the holy scriptures)

As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, So far off from us he has put our transgressions. 13 As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him. 14 For he well knows how we are formed, Remembering that we are dust. (Psalm 103:12-14 of the holy scriptures)

Note that the above quotes were directly copied from the New world Translation of the holy scriptures, found at www.jw.org website

It is on this premise that I am going to use the contest tips to explore my own view of forgiveness. Please I will like @graceleon @petface and @heraidi to please read to know my view of forgiveness and as well make their own entry. The link to the contest is here

What does forgiveness mean to you?

Forgiveness is all about letting go of someone's errors against you. It could be that through an individuals action , spoken words or behaviour, we may be hurt and pained, so it requires we let go of the offense. Not holding it against the person again.

It is just like when someone is owing a certain amount of steem for instance. On a closer look, we just decides to council the debt, without asking the person to pay back the same amount of steem and without conditions attached. That is true forgiveness and that is how I also understand forgiveness to be.

Even the holy scriptures advices us to forgive freely.

Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same (Colossians 3:13 of the holy scriptures)

Now, let me try to talk more on forgiveness from 3 angles. The first one is exoneration.

• This is a case of forgiveness where the the black board of error is wiped entirely clean by an individual, taking the relationship back to its former status before the hurtful action took place. This happens when what happened was entirely an accident, the offender never understood the effect of his actions and finally when the offender takes full responsibility of his actions without excuses for his actions and asks for forgiveness. In this case. If the forgiveness is not given, then something else is wrong with you.

• The next angle of forgiveness is Forbearance. This is often done when the person apologizing also blames you partially for what happens. In this case, you might likely choose to forgive but not forget just to keep the relationship going. In this situation you are always alert to watch out to avoid further reoccurrence. Sometimes, the forbearance can grow to exoneration after having related with the person and no such thing happened again over a long period of time.

• The third angle to it is The Release form. This usually occurs between business partners, friends, relatives who betrayed one another. This type does not require forgiveness, but the person lets the hurt go and moves on with his life ensuring that he is not overburdened by hate. That ends the relationship whatsoever between the offender and the person that is hurt.

So we can see the various aspects of forgiveness. However, the main aspect of forgives is the first one discussed which is rather very difficult to apply but very necessary that it is applied if only we will like to receive forgiveness from our heavenly father and who will not like to be forgiven? No one, not even I as a person.

In your childhood, do you remember that your parents forgave you for some mischief? Tell us.

Yes, I do. It is very obvious that as children, we do so many things that hurt our parents feeling. Some of them are just straight forward instructions while some are not. I wasn't free from mistakes or offense or errors in my childhood.

When I was small, I can vividly remember that going against some direct instructions from my parents. These disobedience came from the influence of friends I move with.

My parents set a time limit for me to return home from school every day. They noticed my association with some school mates who had a bad influence on me then. So to stop me from spending time with them, he provides that rule for me.

I deliberately stayed outside later than the time I should be home. They were not happy about it, but chose to let it go and forgave me after several counseling.

As a parent today, I clearly understand that their decision to forgive was not easy but out of love, consideration and kindness and that their intention was for my own good too.

I also remember when in my childhood, my mother will tell me to come to the farm after school but out of fear of snakes along the road, I will not go. In most cases, my mother understood and forgave me, she even suggested that I can come with our dogs which was a wonderful suggestion for me then.

In another occasion, I lost the money that I was given to go buy foodstuffs. I searched for it but didn't find it. I was afraid to go back home but when I finally mustard up courage to go, thinking that I will be severely punished, I was forgiven. Only mild counsel was given.

I can't quickly forget these situations. They thought me great lessons in life and growing up and becoming a parent, I need to be considerate of the mistakes of my children. After all, it's not as if I have stopped making mistakes totally as a human.

Do you consider yourself a spiteful person?

A spiteful person is one who is mean and has the wicked desire to always revenge. It is that desire to repay a person for a wrong you think he did to you. That person have an avengeful spirit.

I am not a spiteful person, neither do I seek to revenge for a wrong action done to me. However, I try to ensure I have peace all around me, avoiding situations that would lead to being hurt again.

The guiding principle is what is recorded at Romans 12:19 of the holy scriptures which I have quoted below

Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.”

In obedience to this command, I try my best not to be spiteful but to even be the first to seek peace by asking for forgiveness even if I am not in the wrong. This has helped me to keep and retain well meaning friends.

Tell a brief story or anecdote, where it was your turn to ask for forgiveness or the opposite, they asked for your forgiveness.

I once had friends that I was so close to. I took them as part of my family. I wine and dine with them at every moment that presents itself. It was really fun being with them.

However, some events occurred which they where not fully aware, neither do I even owe them any explanation for that since it does not affect or concern them in anyway. Neither did they come for further enquiry to know more about the matter.

I was so surprised to see various spiteful text messages calling me all sorts of derogatory names. It was really painful knowing that I never hurt them in the first place.

Despite that, I took the initiative to approach, still apologized and asked that we all move on. But to my dismay, it even got worse, implying that the acceptance of my apology to them was fake, it never came from my heart.

So I personally decided to move on, let go of the burden and enjoyed a fresh breath of life and new friendships.

Conclusion

The spirit of Forgiveness is a divine quality. It helps to create and maintain a loving and flourishing relationships as a husband, wife, mother, father and children including friends.

It is always good to entirely forgive and forget in the sense that you will not add the wrong, or remember it when anything happens In the future between you and that person.

• Friendships last longer between two good forgivers. I have also found out that in most cases, it is one person that holds the relationship who is a good forgiver. Hence, any day that one decides not to forgive, the relationship suffers.

Let's always be forgiving, it is golden!

Success to you all!