Forgiveness in itself is a part of reconciliation.

We forgive others. For people of Christian faith, they are forgiven by God through Jesus Christ. But for some reason, we don't consider that we need to forgive ourselves.

Christ gives us great compassion. Our friends give us great compassion. Yet, we struggle to extend that same compassion to ourselves.

I decided to go around and ask strangers and friends about both silly and serious things they have had to forgive themselves for. Here is what they said:

1. "The large amount of ice cream I eat."

2. "For not being satisfied in Christ. For not finding my contentment in Him."

3. "For not being as smart as I wanted to be."

4. "Eating Taco Bell five days in a row."

5. "Not making the grades that I wanted to."

6. "For procrastinating."

7. "For being too hard on myself."

8. "For denying Christ."

9. "Everything."

10. "For missing class."

11. "For punishing myself for having a mental illness."

12. "For hating my body."

13. "For not taking the chances that I should have taken."

14. "For being immature in relationships."

15. "For trying to fix myself without God."

16. "For being ashamed of the Gospel."

17. "Making my mentor an idol."

18. "My selfish desire to be comfortable all of the time instead of pushing myself."

19. "Not meeting my own expectations and setting unrealistic expectations."

20. This last one, I decided to share what I have had to forgive myself for. Something that I have had to work through and forgive myself for is allowing my emotional instability hinder my ability to be the best big sister I could be.

I hope you think about the things you have to forgive yourself for and give yourself the compassion you need and just own it.