Today on the podcast, I'm speaking with Rosario Rodriguez about how to forgive others when the worst has happened to us. Rosario is the survivor of two violent crimes, and her story of going from a suicidal depression to offering forgiveness to her attackers is simply beautiful.
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." That's all well and good when, you know, someone cuts me off on the highway. Or someone gossips about me a little. I self-righteously smile, pat myself on the back, and offer forgiveness as if it's the price I have to pay to get into Heaven. But what about bigger things? Family disagreements that have lasted years? True, hurtful incidents with friends? Being assaulted? Being shot?
Rosario's insights on forgiveness are straight from the heart. She's had to forgive the most terrible crimes we can think of. It's a powerful testimony, and I'm honored to share it with you today!
Topics discussed:
- Rosario's assaults and how she believes the Virgin Mary may have intervened
- How her first assault led her into a suicidal depression
- How a priest helped her learn what true forgiveness is
- When to know when you need to distance yourself from someone and if it's possible to still offer them forgiveness
- What to do if you're struggling to forgive someone in your own life
We mentioned:
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