My mother abused me when I was a child. I was taken from her at around 2 because of neglect. Then around four years old my father and mother sobered up, got a rented house and regained custody. That's when the real abuse started. Thankfully, my mother and father parted again and my father took me on a long train ride and then abandoned me to my Grandparents once more. Fast forward 50 some years and a caregiver at a nursing home contacted me and told me my mother was in her care and had tasked her with finding me. I had for many years imagined the woman was dead and felt not much at all, or so I thought. At the news she was alive I was shocked and in emotional turmoil. Outrage that she would attempt to contact me, anger and other emotions I couldn't deal with. I wrote back about all the abuse that had been done to me. Over facebook I went back and forth with the caregiver as liaison for my mother and I. Oh, she would make it up to me I was told. That just enraged me more. Then, the caregiver told how my mother admitted everything and regretted how she treated me and had wanted to reach out to me for years. I began to soften. I just wanted to know why. Why? Why the torture, the unkind words, the constant terror I was put through during the time I was with her? Why? It was actually very simple. My mother grew up abused also, abused in many ways and felt a sense of inferiority. When she got me back from my grandparents she was paranoid of losing me again to them and felt like my affections were for my grandparents. In her own twisted way she was trying to force me to be loyal to her. I was told she now knew how wrong she was and how badly she behaved. She was sorry for the pain she caused me and just wanted me to know that. Emotionally, I couldn't give her the one thing she really wanted and that was a phone call. I just couldn't speak to her because it was too upsetting but I let her know I forgave her and wished her to have peace in her heart. Soon she took a turn for the worse and I stayed quiet for a couple weeks knowing what was coming. The caregiver told me that hardly a day went by but what my mother spoke of me. I had hand carved her a cane from an orange tree that really was quite nice looking. She was able to use it for a time before she became too ill and she proudly went around to the other people in the nursing home showing off the cane her son had made for her. She spoke how she always knew I was the smartest child she had and maybe she was a bit jealous of the intelligence I showed is a thought I have.

So, one day, being confined to bed and too weak to get up she asked the caregiver for an ice cream cone. She seemed to enjoy eating it and then when finished she told the caregiver, "Thank you for finding him for me." Smiled and then died, just like that. The doctor was called and sure enough, her heart had just stopped.

So, I'm glad I was able to forgive her, glad she died in peace and very glad to be released from years of suppressed anger. I was also able to pray for her and asked God to receive her with my recommendation. For the first time I do understand praying for someone who has wronged me.

it's understandable but its hard. very hard. especially if you've been deeply wronged and i have been hardcore wronged in my life. i won't lie, i've had the best time of my life anticipating the justice dealt to those doing horrible things in this world. it's a real high. But that's all emotion and we're supposed to do some thinking here.

The reason we're to forgive those who wrong us is because we were forgiven a debt we could never, ever pay. we, ourselves were on "death row" in a spiritual (and everlasting) sense. you could compare degrees of sin and we haven't committed ones so horrible as some others but that isn't the point. The point is that we were forgiven.

Now our forgiveness doesn't equal God's forgiveness nor does it equal the enemy's repentance. they will get the eternal future they chose,,but our forgiving them is an expression of gratitude to God that we, ourselves were granted far better than we deserved.

It doesn't require feeling any certain way toward anyone. It just requires our acknowledgement and prayer that the enemy can attain forgiveness as much as we did. Don't fret the anger. You can't make it disappear. Just be grateful.

The way I think of it is, imagine whoever it is who wronged you as a newborn baby or a little kid, long before they did whatever they did. At that age they’re as innocent and wide-eyed as you were at that age.

Then imagine the kinds of things that had to have happened in their life to change that sincere innocence into the personality that wronged you. The nasty stuff they had to go through, before they’d done you wrong. Afterward, sure, they’re a dick and they acted like it. But what “dick-ified” them?

Pray for that little kid who’s still innocent, but is in the process of being distorted into the image of the dick you know. With a little effort that little kid who’s never hurt anybody can be seen as sort of “existing” right now, embedded in their past.

That’s who you pray for.

You HAVE TO. Here's why: Not only are you surrendering what they did to you to God to handle, you are removing the subconscious burden of their sins back onto them and off of you. They no longer own that part of your mind and spirit where they wronged you, and in doing so they are the ones who bear the burden of the wrong they committed against you. It is the ultimate "payback" because you are relieving yourself of the evil that was committed to you and giving it to God in total faith that he will handle it. And I promise you on the name of Jesus Christ, he will handle it.

I was just play'n. You old Limp Noodle. Lol

That is a good one as well. Except ET doesn't come from space. They are under the ground and emerge out of oceans, deep lakes, mountains and volcanoes. They are also under Antarctica. That is where Satan's base is. Aliens are the Fallen Angels.

Another good movie is Saving Private Ryan.

Thanks. Just finished watching. Makes me wonder why our modern Dorians seem to have no soul at all.

You are correct Anon. There are many many recent films that have Q references - notably "US" with several references to 17. Also the recent final scene in "One Upon a Time in Hollywood" Sharon Tate is wearing a football Jersey with the number 17 on it. The final 6 episodes of House of Cards. Several Netflix series and movies. There are many others. I believe these references are visible signs that WE are taking over the film industry and its influence.

not if you already know

troll harder troll again

weak