As hard as it is to forgive others, it is harder still to forgive ourselves if we have seriously injured others. There are minor hurts - forgetting a birthday, damaging personal property without replacing it, not showing up when promised, wearing something totally inappropriate to a wedding, giving a ridiculously cheap gift (or re-gifting!), etc. - and there are major hurts - stealing your best friend's boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, stealing their job or causing them to lose a job, staying in an abusive marriage for too long resulting in severe damage to children, and on and on. How can we ever forgive ourselves for hurting others when we realize what we have done and wish, with all our hearts, that we could turn the clock back and avoid the injury?
It's not easy, but it CAN be done! The first action is to believe and accept that the past is past and we can't change it but we CAN go on to live a better life. Beating ourselves up mentally won't change a thing.
We can - and need to - humbly ask forgiveness. This is hard. We don't know what the other person will say, how they will react. Will they get mad? This probably helps us more than it helps them. We don't have to get fancy. Just say, "I'm so sorry for ---." Restitution is important, if we can do it. "How can I make it up to you?"
Another very freeing action is to know, without a doubt, that you and me - WE - are in charge of ourselves in the future! Our life, our decisions, we can do it! This is a very self-strengthening attitude. We are responsible for ourselves! No more blaming anyone else. We'll roll with the punches in life and also enjoy our triumphs!
Lord God, help us forgive ourselves when we've done wrong but also help us ask forgiveness from You, because all our sins mightily offend You who love us.
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