This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- Forgiveness. The act of forgiveness requires forgiveness for others, and sometimes you must forgive yourself. When you choose to forgive, the barriers are torn down, and the record is wiped clean. We teach our children to say, “I am sorry,” “I was wrong,” “Will you please forgive me?” The important phrase here being Will you please forgive me? When we just say sorry, we are carrying the conversation, we are dealing with our guilt and our need to say sorry. But we are not inviting the other person to deal with their feelings; their hurt and their offering forgiveness. Admitting that you were wrong is a very exposing thing to do – not easy – but once again if we are sincere in healing relationships we have to bear all and be open towards others.
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
–Mahatma Gandhi