Friendships and Forgiveness
Friends are supposed to be there for you no matter what happens in your life. They are there for love and support. There is a bond and loyalty between close friends that provides the freedom to be real and honest. We each have a need to share our secrets, express our feelings, and get a reality check when we've done something stupid. So when a friend betrays or hurts you in some way, it really hurts. TThey have let you down and have taken away something special between the two of you that may take time to get back. When someone you care about hurts you, you can hold on to anger, or embrace forgiveness and move forward.
I’m sorry. Forgiving a friend means letting go of resentment, judgment and pain, while embracing love, compassion and freedom. Nearly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another.These wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger, bitterness or even vengeance — but if you don't practice forgiveness, you might be the one who pays most dearly. When you're hurt by someone you love and trust, you might become angry, sad or confused. If you dwell on these events or situations, grudges filled with resentment, vengeance and hostility can take root. If you allow negative feelings to crowd your feelings, you might find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice.
I have hurt some people in my life that thought I were their friends. For this I am sorry. I did not mean to let you down and mis-trust me. I fell into believing lies and not coming to the truth myself. I am only human and I make mistakes. I would do it all over again though as it has made me who I am today. Never take anyone for granted. Don;t use them for your own personal gain or advantage. We want to believe that there is good in people. No matter what their intentions are. Our faults make us who we are and who we will be. Although the apology may be accepted, the trust and the friendship that there was was may never be there again. Forgive and forget they say. All I ask is for forgiveness. Although I may not get any apologies back, its ok. I know deep down I am a good person with a big heart. We must let go about what happened or what you or your friend should have done differently and accept the situation as it is. Acceptance doesn’t mean condoning what your friend said or did to hurt you. It simply means accepting them as they are.
Friends come and go. Being understanding and relying on trust is a basic point of strong friendships. When these are broken we feel the need to lash out, retaliate and get even. Forgiveness is a powerful emotion that we all have. Weather we want to forgive or not is up to us. But letting go of the emotional stress is the first step to healing. Take time to say I am sorry for what I have done and to forgive those that have caused you pain and harm. At least then you will know that you have done your best to mend the relationship that is left over.
Every experience we have, whether pleasant or painful, offers the opportunity for lessons, growth, and healing. Look past the experience of how your friend hurt you to the important life lessons it is providing you. As you let go of grudges, you'll no longer define your life by how you've been hurt. You might even find compassion and understanding. Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, itfeels more painful than the wound we suffered,to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, thereis no peace without forgiveness. The power of forgiveness opens up your path to the future. You no longer carry the burden because it has been released. Then and only then can you embrace the moment with the power to mark positive change not only for yourself but that of others.
