It’s difficult to muster up the strength to forgive
But pain is something with which one cannot live.
Forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s a matter of choice.
It carries with it a powerful inner voice.

Don’t allow yourself to be locked in an emotional prison forever.
You are worth letting out; emotional closure should be your endeavor.
Forgiveness isn’t about weakness,
It’s about trust in yourself and being strong, without showing meekness.

By forgiving, you’re not saying what happened was ok,
What happened is in the past, let go, cast out “what if’s” today.
Remember, you must move from what if to what now.
This is difficult, but by forgiving, you can do it somehow.

Beyond forgiveness is freedom… this you must learn.
Be aware of what happened; let the abuser speak his turn.
Listen while he explains and remembers that behind every abuser is pain.
By hurting others, the abuser feels he has something to gain.
Perhaps by listening, you can bring some healing,
And begin to understand why you harbor this feeling.
Ask yourself, “What must I do to bring closure to this ordeal?”
What can I do to make this hatred feel not quite so real?

Forgiveness enables you to come to a place where you can let go.
This, in turn, brings changes in yourself that will undoubtedly show.
Forgiveness is not forgetting; it’s working through the pain.
Let the injuries teach you to overcome the hurt, and thus, to grow, to gain.

If you are willing to forgive, but cannot forget,
You’ll at least be free of one burden with which you’re beset.
So, forgive and unburden your own heart.
This will give your life a new, fresh start.

By Ann Leyh