The language of forgiveness


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Posted by Cheryl on September 23, 1997 at 14:14:19:


In response to Yup, written by Amy on September 23, 1997 at 11:41:48

] Sometimes I think the language is at fault. Saying "That's all right" has become syonymous with "You are forgiven"



I agree wholeheartedly with this Amy. Saying "That's all right" lessens the original offense and can lead the offender to believe that it was really no big deal, what he did wasn't so bad after all.

Some of us were speaking of guilt and shame in chat the other week. I put forth the notion that we have lost a great deal of our ability to feel shame and guilt ("it's not my fault") and that we are the lesser for it.

And while it s very freeing to be able to truly forgive, it is every bit as liberating to accept forgiveness; to know that you have done wrong, that you have hurt someone, to accept your responsibility for it and to know that you are still loved. Wow.

And now I've gotton us even further off the subject of JE, but maybe not too far afield...;-)

Jane was able to experience the freedom of forgiving her aunt; Mrs. Reed was never able to break lose from the chains of resentment.




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