Children will learn to forgive when they see forgiveness as part of every day life. If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. None of us is born loving and forgiving. We learn it from one another and the learning is slow and hard. The habit of forgiveness flourishes best where it is deeply rooted in prayer.
Revenge is never as sweet at the poets insist.
When two people are locked in a struggle to keep the score even, their relationship is likely to be the first casualty but not the last. It is freeing to become aware that we do not have to be victims of our past and can learn new ways of responding. But there is a step beyond this recognition . . . It is the step of forgiveness. Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly.