Forgiveness is an Action

Think about this.  What do you do when that little old lady darts across 3 lanes of traffic, causing you to slam on your brakes, just so she doesn't miss her turn?  Or that inconsiderate jerk, uhhhh i mean 'gentleman', that darts past you JUST before you reach the finish line of the half-marathon you just completed?  Or the little kid that just dropped ice cream on your shoe?  Do you stay angry at them for the rest of your life?  Do you put a time limit on how long it will be before you forgive them?

In all three of these situations, these people didn't intentionally do anything to you personally.  They just weren't thinking about what they were doing or how it would affect the others around them.  So, what if they NEVER apologize?  Is that a reason NOT to forgive them?  EVER?

This is how i came to the thought about forgiveness being an action.  It seems that a lot of people think you only forgive once the offending person apologizes, or shows remorse, contrition, etc.... I'm sure you've had people in your life who you felt like hurt, or offended, you in some way and yet has never owned up to it?

i'm curious.  Did you forgive them?  If not, will you be able to if they never admit it?

Maybe i'm wrong (which i've been known to be), but from what i understand in my reading the Bible is that Forgiveness doesn't come with a price tag, nor does it come with a debt.  In addition, aside from the forty years where God let the Israelites roam the deserts for 40 years, i haven't seen any indication that Forgiveness is based on a time-table.  What i mean is that if someone offended you for over a 12 month period that it should take 12 months of good behavior before you are to forgive them.  Does that make sense?

To me, to Forgive is simply that.  To Forgive.  And THAT sounds like a action to me.  Not a reaction.

Now, because i ain't always so good at that, it's time for me to go out and practice what i preach.

laters.