Posted by Barbarah on October 10, 1998 at 22:42:42:
In Reply to: Re: Can't Forgive posted by Doug Showalter on October 10, 1998 at 22:00:03:
>> --When you forgive, you are NOT obligated to have a relationship with the person you forgave, unless you really want to. <<
Biblically, because my issue is with my father, I'm not sure this is right in my situation. How do I honor him without relating to him? He's unrepentant, and still does the same things he always has. Nothing has changed much since I was a child. He doesn't molest me (I want to be clear about that), he puts me down, nothing I ever do is good enough and he treats me like I'm an enemy. I've tried to love him. He just throughs it back at me. To hear him tell it, I must be not only stupid, but evil.
Frankly, I really want to do what is right in God's eyes. Even if that's hard. Even if it's painful. I just need to know *how* to forgive him. I hate the fact that I hate him. I *want* to forgive him. I just don't know *how*. Then there's the issue of relationship.
Man, I feel like a mess about all this. I'm considered to be a strong Christian. I counsel others in many areas (obviously not this one). I just don't have a clue on this. Can you help me out here?