Fogiveness...what's That all about?

I was merely expressing my opinion. I did read your opinion and everyone else's before I posted, and I respect what everyone has said, and would appreciate the same in kind. You don't have to agree with what I've said, but it's still going to be my opinion because it happens to be what I believe from my experiences (and I said as much in my post). I wasn't responding to you and your post specifically, nor to anyone else's, but to the topic in general; had I been responding to you, I would have quoted you.

But getting past it and actually allowing yourself to feel that forgiveness so you aren't harboring that anger and suspecting every person who enters your life as having the potential to do that to you again is really quite important, regardless of what you believe.

So while it takes time, forgiveness is essential to getting past things and moving on with your life.

Gentlemen, I like you both immensely. Whenever I see your names on a threadline, I watch for it because you each have something to say I can respect. That said...

Tumbleweed, sometimes online the emotional meaning is lost in the black and white of print. Reading jayjay's first post twice, both times I saw him trying to make a joke. We do that sometimes when things get heavy, and this thread was getting heavy. I am sorry his humor hit two very clearly precious places for you. But one thing I do believe was taught was tolerance--and that means not just for people who believe what one believes ones' self, true?

jayjay, the first was funny. I think tumbleweed got hit in a tender spot and that's just my two cents. Sometimes, it's hard to make light of the things most sacred to us. Those are the times I have to poke fun at myself--seems mebbe you do that, too. But doesn't work for everyone...and so the second shot wasn't funny. I think the posts and the contributions you make to this thread are awesome--but this last one doesn't reflect the thoughtful person I am coming to know.

I genuinely don't mean to offend either of you, but just some honest feedback--which you, jayjay, were kind enough to offer me when I was a newbie (and maybe a whole lot more gracefully than I'm doing now).

Ironic, on a forgiveness thread? Or just real life?

tumbleweed, javajava, and victoriesecret--the dressing on top of our beliefs may be quite different, but I suspect the foundation is the same. .

Since I believe the initial question was, what's forgiveness all about... to me? I can only give my own take on it.
[edit]

"If I want to hold someone down by the throat, I have to stay down there with them."

[edit]

...it is we who are stuck in the muck of unforgiveness.
In regards to forgiveness of both others and myself, I really try to remember that we are all imperfect human beings. We hurt others, we are hurt by others. We require forgiveness and we must forgive if we are to have peace.
I realize this is just a summary of a larger issue, and it doesn't just magically happen without some heartache and often times some heartwork, but this is just my experience.

jesas was the wises of the wise, he used words of wisdom to fight,that is why he was and is the most powerful man of all time

Looks like you're wanting to start that new thread, jayjay!

Oughta be interesting--let me know if you do and which board it's on, k?