On the devotion from 11/11, Patrick recounts how he working on a forgiving heart in a very personal relationship. We think his example might be encouraging to others who struggle with forgiveness or find it easy to hold on to grudges:
I think it’s easier to forgive a hurt from a source that is not close, that is to say not part of your family or inner circle friends. I can forgive and remove myself from a source of hurt not close to my heart. With close family, it’s more challenging but forgiving infinitely, coupled with self-reflection and adjusting one’s own behaviour, is the only way. I have a long running source of sorrow at my relationship with my youngest daughter, when she is stressed she casts me as the villain in her script. Although I made mistakes and somethings but by no means all things I would do differently given a second chance. The Villain is a part I have not accepted to play. At times we can carefully talk things through. At some point, I changed MY response from one of defense and confrontation to forgiveness. I know this change in my approach has brought about a gradual improvement in our father daughter relationship and a happy, united wider family. Infinitely forgiving is not easy, but it’s the right thing to do. I don’t want to think about what might have happened but for ongoing forgiveness. The sorrow I mentioned earlier has changed from feeling sorry for myself to feelings for the needless pain my daughter bears. I have seen slow but steady progress over time, and I know that all will be well. Forgiveness set me free, and it is doing so for my daughter too.
