12 Secrets of Successful Families - 4.Forgiveness

WHAT IT MEANS

To forgive means that you let go of an offense and any feelings of resentment it may have caused.  Forgiveness does not require that you minimize the wrong or pretend it never occurred.

BIBLE PRINCIPLE:  "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has cause for complaint against another." -COLOSSIANS 3:13.

"When you love someone, you look past that person's imperfections and instead see the person that he or she is trying to become." -Aaron.

WHY IT MATTERS

If you hold on to resentment, you can harm  yourself physically and emotionally-you can also damage your marriage.

"One time my husband apologized for something that hurt me deeply. It was hard for me to forgive him.  I eventually did, but I regret that I didn't do it sooner. It put an unnecessary strain on our relationship." - Julia.

Next time:  12 Secrets of Successful Families  - Conclusion of 4. Forgiveness

From the jw.org publications