I have met and heard enough from people to understand the value of forgiveness, at least in its simplest form. Forgiveness is the most powerful of tools to heal a broken heart, mend a wounded soul or restore a promise that one has held dear. It is a key that unlocks the storage containing those what has been stolen from us. It could be joy, happiness or a better tomorrow, but through forgiveness, what has been robbed from you can be returned. 

Many discussions and ideas of forgiveness are useful for preachings, blog posts (like this) and value-based instruction. But I have learned as of late that forgiveness is a practical solution that will enable us to become better individuals from its practice. 

Forgiveness becomes necessary when people don't live up to our expectation. No matter what we try to do, people will not change. It's neither our right, obligation, privilege or responsibility to change them. When we choose to accept others, we take them as who they are. We must (as in must!) learn to accept them the way Christ accepted us for who we are. 

It is always inevitable, however, that those whom we love and value the most are the very people who will be instruments of pain. They will try to damage your heart, destroy your soul and rob the joy out of you. The very people who have encouraged, built you up, supported you and strengthened you are the very beings capable to do the reverse. 

Recognizing early on that an imperfect world breeds imperfect people and produces imperfect relationships, imperfect outcomes and imperfect ideals will help us overlook offenses, understand problems and realize why evil is present (yes, that too!). 

I asked my Mom one time, what will I do when I see this particular person, who has brought offense to me indirectly, and she said, forgive...77 times. 

Forgiveness it seems, is a habit. And like all things, it's difficult the first time you do it. But the more you forgive, however, the easier it gets to do it again. 

When we look at ourselves and discover, knowingly or unknowingly, that we offend and sin against a perfect Being, One who has given His all and is willing to sacrifice the greatest of sacrifice on our behalf and will only ask that we give Him the opportunity to love us and bless us more, then forgiveness, it would seem, must be easy. But it's not. So, He who we offend the most will give us the ability to forgive, to the point even when it hurts. 

It is a good reminder then that every time we choose to forgive, we acknowledge the fact that someone forgave us first. He did it too, even when it hurts.