title: Forgiving the Past
author: Smith, S.M.
description: Anyone looking in from the outside would never describe my family as dysfunctional. Words like poised, exemplary, and honorable would be far more likely to be listed. The downside of living in a fishbowl, however, is that everyone has to keep up the theatrics of appearances. I’m not very good at that. And that’s why I walked away. Now, thirteen years later, I have no choice but to go back and face the very people who helped make the decision to leave oh-so easy. The parents who wanted to change everything about me. The boy who shattered my heart. And the boy who will forever have the pieces. But can I do it? Can I really face all these people and admit that I might have been wrong? Can I see things from their perspective and make amends? And above all else, can I make the changes to my perfectly structured life and do what they need me to do? I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, but when God throws some unexpected curveballs my way I'm left with two choices. I can either walk away again or take a chance by Forgiving the Past.