Can We Really Forgive?

There are terms people fight to understand the meaning of through the ages and stages of their lives. One I've heard debated from different points of view is forgiveness. Some say it's a myth, it's not possible. Others say they can quite literally forgive and forget.

I know it was a time sensitive novella, therefore nearly impossible to capture all of the nuances of forgiveness, but it appeared to be a fast forgiveness in A Christmas Carol. In the last chapter when Ebenezer Scrooge turned his life around, no one rejected him. The new "him" was embraced by everyone and then the story ends. Happily ever after.

But is that what life really looks like? Do people just forgive that quickly as though nothing happened? Those questions can probably only be answered from a personal experience level. We can only speak for our own hearts. Right? We may be able to read some signs from another person that they have forgiven us, but who really knows the deep parts of the heart?

Obviously I cannot control someone else's heart toward me. I can't make them forgive me. I can only lament and repent to them and hope for the best. Then from that moment on, vow to be better. Whatever I did to offend them, strive to never hurt someone in that way again.

On the other hand, what about those who have hurt me? I have never been able to forget, but I treasure relationships and feel I truly do forgive. I clean their slate because I feel it takes a BIG person to genuinely admit they hurt you and ask for forgiveness. That actually reminds me of why I like

them :-) I may watch my step with them and be on guard for awhile, but I most definitely give them a new start. Who doesn't need one of those?