For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14, NIV)
One can not wait until the one who offended him asks for forgiveness. Forgiveness is a heart issue. An unforgiving heart remains in bondage to the offense.
One needs to forgive for his own sake. May each one, struggling in this area, begin with remembering that the basis for one's own forgiveness was established 2000+ years ago.
Forgiveness has the benefit of personal freedom.
A cuppa liber-TEA is warm and soothing, washing relief over one's insides----yet, invigorating life at the same time.
Forgiving isn't about the other guy. Typically, they don't "get" the depth of the offense or realize the damage it has done to the relationship. Sometimes, said offender doesn't care whether you forgive him or not.
Therefore, the offended one must forgive for his own sake. Carrying such anger can eat away at his insides, and steal his inner peace.
Christians forgive because it's spiritually healthy and because "God says so." There are no exceptions. When the infraction has caused a chasm in a relationship, one must still forgive. Nothing imprisons quite like a grudge. When one has stolen the innocence of life and hope as you once knew it, remember to forgive the thief, not the theft.
