When you asked for forgiveness it was not just a matter of words but more the realization that you were remorseful and that you wanted me to reach out and take you back.
You saw that I contemplated the sin you had committed and that I took into consideration all that had gone on in the past that was truly important and crucial in my coming to a conclusion.
You watched as I made you squirm for no other reason than I was testing the resolve you had to make amends for this crime you thought you had perpetrated upon me.
You even doubted me in thinking I would not forgive but rather cast you out, send you away without giving you any benefit of any doubt when all along there was never doubt in my mind.
I saw the you I love, not the you who believed she was a sinner but rather the beautiful woman I had grown to love with a passion I find words hard to describe.
I reached out to take you in for no sin of yours would ever be beyond forgiveness for love is the act of forgiveness, of acceptance, love will always outlast any call for recompense.
Come my love rest easy within my arms, the void I feared is no more, I have heard you call to me, no longer shall we flounder lost in each other’s wilderness.
Morpethroad 
Floundering in each other’s wilderness…well now.
Wonderful poem Michael.
Oh happy you picked that one…..thank you so much, much better than my first draft….
so often we make others squirm in testing… solid piece, truly about forgiveness and I am with Anja on those last 2 lines. Like this draft…:-)
Thanks Jenny I have been playing with forgiveness for a few days now here was another avenue to try.
some times I find it funny, that I write something and within a couple of days it suits the challenge – this all worked in well for you then, pleased – you wanted to let it out by hook or by crook! 🙂
Still not finished with it but today was another attempt to write about it…
forgiveness can be such a beautiful thing when we allow it. one of the hardest things to do, depending on the sin. betrayal would be very hard for me to overcome. i would hope that love would win…one of the biggest parts of forgiveness as well is allowing ourselves the grace as well so we dont have to carry around the hurt & pain…
Thanks so much Brian I agree it’s the personal effort to forgive that is so important.
Lovely!!
Thank you Helen, hope you are well.
What a soothing balm this would be to someone troubled and hurt by the hurt they have caused someone else by their own bad behavior. I just love that last sentence. It says it all.
Thank you Linda I have been grappling with this concept for some days now and I think I am beginning to understand it better
It’s a hard concept I completely agree! I’ve always found forgiveness to be an ongoing process.
It’s difficult to forgive sometimes… maybe all the time… it takes time to trust again.. you’ve captured that beautifully here.
Thanks so much Steph, I appreciate that comment.
This so romantically written. A kind hearted man one many woman can only dream about.
Thanks Kim, am I such a man I wonder…..
Fiction or non fiction only your wife knows. 🙂
Thankfully Kim she rid herself of me or rather I did of her long ago.
Sorry. 😦
Don’t be sorry, best thing I ever did.
Aww.. Michael! What a wonderful poem/story. I believe… if you can write it, you can live it. I’m sure you ARE such a man! 🙂
Oh Courtney such flattery, I must refer to to my ex I’m sure would have another opinion.
Sometimes it is hard to be Prince Charming when you aren’t married to a Princess?? And sometimes forgiveness can make us look at life and relationships with a totally different perspective……
Great comment Courtney, it has been said to me by a counsellor to check with him the next time I enter into any kind of relationship as, in his very polite way, was saying I suck at it.
I think it takes the strength of ten to forgive, but it is the right choice.
Thank you so much and you are right to forgive is divine isn’t it, probably why we humans struggle with it. I very much like your comment.
..rest easy in your arms….how nice for the person you care for to be wrapped in forgiveness 😉
Thanks Katy, and why not, I am learning love is about forgiveness, how better to show it than wrapping your love in your arms.
This one makes me tear up a little, for I’ve always longed to hear those words ‘no sin of yours would ever be beyond forgiveness’.
Thank you Marina, I am happy you could connect. Thank you for reading. Michael.
I enjoyed your approach and perspective on forgiveness. The fifth stanza is my favorite.
Thank you Gabriella, so happy you read this and yes stanza 5 is an interesting one.
With a heart like that – you’re a keeper. I’m not sure I’m as forgiving. I’m kinda’ stubborn.
RoSy I would never have said that about you. Thank you so much for reading and I do appreciate you reading and your comments.
Aww…Thanks for saying that.
You’re always welcome dear Michael.
Really beautiful thoughts on forgiving. It can be one of the hardest, but one of the most necessary things we can do.
Thank you Patricia I agree it can be very difficult especially when you are feeling very wronged by another’s actions. Thank you so much for reading.
A forgiveness – still that testing of resolve. Love it that way.. But some people we are always ready to forgive.
Thanks Bjorn, so true the special in our lives we forgive them their sins and embrace them more tenderly.
One of the things I often think about is the confusion and cross over people seem to associate when it comes to forgiveness and vulnerability.
Forgiveness in itself does not need to mean restoration of the same relationship/ circumstances initially in place.
This is especially relevant in abusive relationships or ongoing manipulation.
This is a beautiful piece of writing Michael. So genuine and articulated beautiful.
Delight to read.
Thank you Lou I am happy you took the time to read. I agree with you about the restoration of relationship, going back to what was would potentially be fatal, rather my argument is that forgiveness forges a newer stronger bond between people, a recognition of past sin, but also an acceptance because overriding the hurt that can occur is the desire to love the person because you see the potential, the actuality that the person brings to your life. I think the realisation that we are not perfect and that remorse is a real emotion we can see helps to build trust and connection. Maybe Lou all this is like so much of me, is all in my head. Thanks again for reading.
What is in our heads is very much what counts in my opinion. If it causes issues for us, then we can work to change it – not necessarily the situation, but our thoughts about what is happening.
I understand being stuck in this place. Wanting to forgive because you feel their is genuine regret.
My issues were, the apology was genuine . I did forgive. There was reconciliation. It happened again, and again and again.
Eventually I forgave (before I became bitter, okay maybe I did get a little bitter) but There was NO reconciliation. This was after almost 6 years of trying.
At some point, sometimes we need to forgive and not reconcile – then we grieve and give ourselves time to heal.
This is painful, though better temp pain than never ending cycle of it.
I can very much relate to your comment. I went from a marriage and then a few years later I went to what I thought was a better relationship which turned out to be as bad if not worse than marriage. In the end I adopted the mantra, I don’t have to live like this and so I ‘tempted pain’ but came out all the better for it.
You are right forgiveness only goes so far, if the remorse is not genuine then there is no point.
I like very much that love is the act of forgiveness. And I do know that forgiveness is an act of love and as important to the forgiver as the one forgiven.
That’s a very good point Mary, it is important for the forgiver, very much so as their act of forgiving extends to their loved one their own act of love. Thanks so much for your comment.
This is very powerful – you have to be so strong to forgive. To REALLY forgive.
Thanks Pooky, yes it takes strength and we don’t all have it. Thanks again for reading.
Well..i like to think that LOVE TRuLY iS unconditional..and that is the LOVE of forgiveness..without living in transgression..so the LOvE we give ..IS the LOVE we receive..and without forgiveness..there can be no love..as far as i see..at least not the unconditional..kind..of forevermoreNow…of LOVE
Thank you for your comment. I am going to assume you are agreeing with my prose poem?
This is a very moving piece, Michael. It’s almost romantic for the person being forgiven…such an attraction to feel this forgiveness, love and acceptance. It is very nice indeed. Nice to read and whoever does need forgiveness is a very lucky person.
Thank you so much for reading Oliana, I do like to read your comments and appreciate you taking the time to read.
I think of forgiveness as a skill, the more I use it the better I get at it. It’s about putting myself behind the needs of the other person, for whether they want it or not, unforgiveness can be seen in the eyes and this tears at the heart of any relationship that wishes continuence.
So true Ms gimpet it is a skill that is not always easy to administer. And yes an inability to forgive does destroy relationship. Take care.