Made possible by forbearance rather than revenge . . .

“If forgiveness and its sometimes-appropriate aim of reconciliation are predicated on truth, and made possible by forbearance rather than revenge, then developing and expressing empathy for the offending person is the third element. Empathy is rooted in the realization that the one who hurt us remains human and needs our kindness. Empathy recognizes that at some point we may have done to someone else the very thing we are now trying to transcend.”

Donald Shriver