Why Should I Forgive?

People who have read and believe in the Bible know that the number one reason to forgive is because it pleases God and that if we want God to forgive us of our offenses then we must be willing to forgive those who have offended us. But, even aside of Biblical thinking, there are many good reasons to forgive.

First of all, we all do wrong from time to time. We say the wrong thing, make the wrong decision, display the wrong attitude. There is not a one of us who has never done someone else wrong. Maybe it was intentional, maybe it was not, but the fact remains we each have hurt or offended someone at one time or another and will more than likely do so again in the future because that is just plain old human nature. We often regret our wrongdoings and wish we could take it back. If we want others to forgive us, we should always be willing to forgive others for the wrong they do to us.

Also, you never know when you might find yourself in a particular situation where you need something important and the very person who can help you with that need also happens to be the person against whom you have been holding a grudge. If you have never forgiven that person, it will be difficult for you to ask him or her for the help you need. The act of forgiving tears down walls between two hearts and builds bridges from one life to another.

Another reason is that forgiving someone even when they are in total wrong can help you feel good about yourself. Forgiveness clears your head of negative thoughts and replaces them with cheerful and positive thoughts. Forgiving removes the frown from your face and gives you a smile.

Forgiveness is good for your health. When you hold a grudge against someone, it is a burden on your heart, figuratively and literally speaking. Holding a grudge creates tension and stress which can lead to other health problems ranging anywhere from headaches, nausea, depression, high blood pressure, even increasing your chances for a heart attack. The act of forgiving means you let go of that burden and in turn release that stress. When we forgive someone, not only are we doing good to them but we are also doing good to ourselves.

And lastly, life is just too just short. Why waste your days on grudges when you can be filling them with love?