For as long as I can remember, most people would tell me that I forgive too easily. That I am too quick to accept an apology or too quick to give second chances. Forgiveness was always one thing that I was sure of, even though it may sometimes seem that one is undeserving of our forgiveness. It was never something that I really struggled with. However, after a few let downs and hearing multiple people tell me that I am letting people "walk" all over me, forgiveness became a bit of a harder task.

Recently, my co-worker and I began discussing the topic of not letting opportunities pass by. She mentioned that if you have the opportunity to do something as simple as going on a family vacation, don't pass it up no matter what the circumstances are. You never know when your last opportunity for a family vacation may come up, or when it may become the last for a family member.

She then looked at me and said, "Time is short. I was arguing with my mother the other day and I just looked at her and said ' I love you, Mom.'"

That is the moment that the idea of forgiveness began to ignite inside of me all over again.

She was right. Time may be no more than a man-made construct but it is short and we can't take the chance of not knowing when time will end for us.

Forgiveness still wasn't necessarily a major difficulty for me, but I can think of at least one person that I have not allowed myself to forgive. Perhaps they do not even realize the struggle I have faced to forgive them, or perhaps they do not even realize that they have done something that needs to be forgiven, but It has been nearly two years since we have spoken and a major part of that is because of me.

Two years is too long to go without forgiving someone. We should have the heart to forgive immediately, no matter how difficult it may be.

I realize that me saying this does not mean that immediate forgiveness is something that will always happen. We are human and pain can leave us in hard predicaments. Forgiveness will never be an easy thing when we have been hurt.

This short conversation with my co-worker has allowed me to realize why I always chose forgiveness. It is true that we never know what is going to happen and when it is going to happen. Choosing to hold a grudge against someone and not forgiving them may become our biggest regret. It may lead to us not forgiving ourselves.

Allowing ourselves to forgive and to give second chances is not allowing ourselves to be "walked" all over. If people choose to do things that cause us to have to constantly forgive them, that shows something about who they are. But if we forgive, that shows something about who we are.

Forgiving isn't weakness. Forgiveness is strength.

It takes courage to forgive someone after we have been hurt.

Allow yourself to forgive, even if it does take time. You never know when the time to forgive someone will come to an end.