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Quote by Lewis B. Smedes

“...Forgiving is not having to understand. Understanding may come later, in fragments, an insight here and a glimpse there, after forgiving.”

Quote by Lewis B. Smedes

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Lewis B. Smedes
Lewis B. Smedes

Lewis B. Smedes was an American author renowned for his theological and philosophical writings. Born in 1921, he made significant contributions to the fields of ethics and spirituality, with a particular focus on themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. His work has had a profound impact on both religious and secular audiences. more

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“If we say that monsters [people who do terrible evil] are beyond forgiving, we give them a power they should never have...they are given the power to keep their evil alive in the hearts of those who suffered most. We give them power to condemn their victims to live forever with the hurting memory of their painful pasts. We give the monsters the last word.”

PeopleIfsGivingShouldHeartLastsPastEvilGivenHurtMemoriesForeverAliveTerribleForgivenessVictimForgivingPainfulMonstersLast WordsLive ForeverPainful Past
Author:Lewis B. Smedes
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“With a little time, and a little more insight, we begin to see both ourselves and our enemies in humbler profiles. We are not really as innocent as we felt when we were first hurt. And we do not usually have a gigantic monster to forgive; we have a weak, needy, and somewhat stupid human being. When you see your enemy and yourself in the weakness and silliness of the humanity you share, you will make the miracle of forgiving a little easier.”

FirstsHumansLittlesHumanityFeltHurtHuman BeingsEnemyShareStupidEasierForgivenessWeaknessWeakMiracleForgivingInsightMonstersInnocentProfileNeedyLittle TimeSilliness
Author:Lewis B. Smedes
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“The problem with revenge is that it never gets what it wants; it never evens the score. Fairness never comes. The chain reaction set off by every act of vengeance always takes its unhindered course. It ties both the injured and the injurer to an escalator of pain...Why do family feuds go on and on?...the reason is simple: no two people, no two families, ever weigh pain on the same scale.”

PeopleWantTwoReasonProblemPainCoursesSimpleGoes OnForgivenessRevengeScalesReactionsChainsTiesScoreFairnessVengeanceInjuredFeudsEscalatorsChain ReactionsFamily Feud
Author:Lewis B. Smedes
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“God is the original, master forgiver. Each time we grope our reluctant way through the minor miracle of forgiving, we are imitating his style. I am not at all sure that any of us would have had imagination enough to see the possibilities in this way to heal the wrongs of this life had he not done it first.”

WayFirstsDoneEnoughImaginationStylePossibilityMastersForgivenessMiracleOriginalsForgivingHealThis LifeMinorsReluctantImitating
Book:Days of Grace Through the Year
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“Forgiving is an affair strictly between a victim and a victimizer. Everyone else should step aside...The worst wounds I ever felt were the ones people gave to my children. Wrong my kids, you wrong me. And my hurt qualifies me to forgive you. But only for the pain you caused me when you wounded them. My children alone are qualified to forgive you for what you did to them.”

PeopleShouldChildrenKidsPainFeltHurtStepsWorstForgivenessVictimForgivingAffairWoundsMy ChildrenWoundedQualified
Author:Lewis B. Smedes
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