Thanks, Liz. I am in the process of teaching myself this art, or mental habit. Not easy, but I am determined to learn!,

Thank you so much for such a thoughtful post. Yes, from time to time I have experienced just this freedom and release from the bondage of resentment, fear, anger and bitterness. All from forgiveness. This is not to say that forgiveness is easy/simple/carefree. However, when I honestly, earnestly practice forgiveness, I get freedom and release. (Relief, too!) Because of my work with alcoholics and addicts in recovery, I know forgiveness is a large part of the program of recovery, too. For many reasons–not all earthshaking, or huge, but all profound–I have discovered that forgiveness can be a freedom from bondage of many kinds.

Mollie, there was a haunting idea in the book I mentioned by the Arnott’s “Grace and Forgiveness”. “Judge not that you shall not be judged.” If we judge our parents, we tend to repeat what they did. Forgiveness somehow breaks the cord of connection. We do not have to repeat their sins. We are freer to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, not our parents.