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Forgiveness belongs in the premier league of life and is right up there on the table with generosity, knowledge, love, peace and other virtues of godliness. According to Wikipedia, “in Christian tradition, the seven heavenly virtues combine the four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude with the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. The seven capital virtues, also known as seven lively virtues, contrary or remedial virtues, are those opposite the seven deadly sins. They are often enumerated as chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility.”
Head or tail, forgiveness has been made to become exactly like any of the aforementioned virtues. Almost on a daily basis, we see forgiveness abused, disavowed, misconstrued, misunderstood, taken for granted. Many people refuse to seek or give it, thinking it doesn’t really matter. Others who seek or give it do so rather perfunctorily, neither understanding its whole gamut nor its fundamentality.
So, what then is forgiveness? To best understand and internalise the divine concept, there are three must-do things for everyone approaching the matter. One, is to close the dictionary and stop looking for forgiveness in it; two, is to eschew its dictionary meaning: because -traditionally- forgiveness is not a dictionary word. Three, is to so renew your mind that forgiveness become a given and that, in spite of and despite the tantrums and name-calling by naysayers and sundry agents of Satan.
From the foregoing, we see that we cannot satisfactorily answer what forgiveness is sans first decoding what it is not. Again, for effect, forgiveness is not a dictionary word. Forgiveness is not even an English word. In fact, forgiveness is not a word at all nor is it an action.
Forgiveness will not always make sense. Forgiveness must not necessarily be sought, to be given. Someone said forgiveness is better from powerful to powerless. Yes, but it is also possible for the powerful and the rich to rejoice because the weakest and the poorest pronounced forgiveness.
Forgiveness is not an afterthought. Forgiveness existed long, long, long before the beginning of man. Forgiveness is neither conditional nor reasonable. Forgiveness simply flows to fill a void created by intention or mistake.
Forgiveness has no memory. It keeps no record of evil or frequency or of any history and so recollects nothing. Forgiveness has no pain sensitivity, whatsoever. It raises its beautiful head every time foolishness occurs.
Forgiveness is not a man even though forgiveness is a man. It is not the way of a physical man. To be sure, forgiveness is not a woman, is not a child. It is not human at all.
Forgiveness is not emotional. It is never angry or bitter. Forgiveness is not intelligent, is not smart by world standards. It never thinks anything or everything through nor dwells on why before snowballing.
Forgiveness is not the best revenge. Forgiveness is not any revenge, not best not worst. It cannot be, because forgiveness houses no impurity. Forgiveness regrets nothing, envies nothing.
Forgiveness never bothers about the other party. Forgiveness counts no cost. Forgiveness takes no prisoners. Forgiveness plays its part and washes its hands off the crisis.
Forgiveness is an answer. Forgiveness is a blessing. Forgiveness is a charm; forgiveness is the highest form of something like commodity money, technically speaking. It is perfect for every age, for every person, for every religion, for every situation and confers untold power -up and down.
Forgiveness is a clever Dick. Forgiveness is an unstoppable ebullience. Forgiveness is a seeing eye. You may even see it as foolishness or naïveté but it is wisdom -unmatched and unquestionable.
Forgiveness is a gift. Forgiveness is a heart, a hearing ear. Forgiveness is healing hands. Both the giver and the taker simultaneously achieve something that neither the mind can comprehend nor the mouth speak.
“Forgiveness is a clever Dick. Forgiveness is a righteous motherfucker. Forgiveness takes no prisoners. Apart from life and salvation, forgiveness is probably the third most important of God’s countless gifts to mankind.”
Forgiveness is life, a lifestyle. Forgiveness is light, a lighthouse. Forgiveness is love, an uncanny loveability. No one who forgives or is forgiven dwells in darkness, or in death nor in hate.
Forgiveness is a man, a spiritual man. Forgiveness is a revelation, an eternal order. Forgiveness is a talisman, a medicinal magic wand. Being the very zenith of the moral wavelength, it is a place for only those who are not mere men.
Forgiveness is a price. Forgiveness is a prize. Forgiveness is a smile. When forgiveness happens, something -a very heavy, useless weight- leaves the forgiver who wins instant sweetness in their spirit (a culmination of freedom and joy and peace) even as the forgivee smiles away the close shave.
Forgiveness is a righteous motherfucker (sssh, look up the word first and find out about formidable remarkability). Forgiveness is a priceless sacrifice that fructifies. Forgiveness is probably, after life and salvation, the third most important of God’s countless gifts to mankind. You cannot lose, with forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the one orgasm of the soul that everybody must attain in this realm. Forgiveness is the oxygen of relationship that nobody should hold back. Forgiveness is the unction to function, the key to enjoy both worlds. It is as consistent as most people aren’t; it is as constant as the northern star; it is as useful as Ibom Air to Nigeria.
Forgiveness is the value that can waltz into even the most troubled spots and extract peace. Forgiveness can play the role of an x-ray and reach heights thought impossible. Forgiveness can whisper a yell into submission. The zeal for peace embedded in forgiveness defies logic.
Forgiveness is a person. Forgiveness is Jesus. Forgiveness is God. You cannot not forgive, no matter the matter.
Go ahead now, pick up that phone. Make that call, or visit that person. Strike that forgiveness deal today, now. Tomorrow might be too late.
Forgive and forget. It’s ungodly (indeed satanic to not forget after forgiving). Welcome to heaven on earth. Call or write to thank me later.
God bless Nigeria!
