Another blog entry from Brad Wolgamott:
A lot of people think that to forgive someone is to let them off the hook for something they did to hurt you or someone you know. This really is not the case. There is a huge difference between forgiveness and restoration. Forgivenes can be immediate but restoration may take time if ever! Forgiveness frees your spirit of resentment, which is something that binds many of us. In latin resentment is broken down into “re” which means again and sento which is to “cut”. So resentment means to feel the cut again and again. This unfortunatly becomes self inflicted pain because it is only cutting our spirit and binding us from true joy. While, at the same time the offender doesnt even know you are dealing with the emotional bondage and pain. The offender will have to pay their own price in their own way. We may never see them suffer but more than likely they do at a very intense emotional way, either immediatly or some day down the road. if they don’t then that is their own battle and nothing we can do will ever change that. so be free of resentment and live a life full grace and joy.