Search our site
divorce360.com provides help, advice and community for people
contemplating, going through or recovering from divorce and the issues around it,
including separation, divorce laws, spousal support and emotional issues.

profile
Community  :: christina-rowe's Stuff  :: christina-rowe's Blog

   
Personal Tags
ADVERTISING PARTNERS


Blogs
You can search for Blogs by tag here:


Invite Others
Invite friends and family to join you on d360! - Click here

Blog


Can You Forgive Your Ex and Let Go? 

 If you have gone through a bitter divorce and especially if your ex has cheated, it can be very difficult to let go of anger and resentment. People tell you that you need to move on and forgive, but sometimes that is easier said than done.

 

 I want to share a story with you about a friend of mine, who was so angry with her ex, she couldn't even say his name without seething with anger. She hated him with a passion and was more than happy to share with you all of her ex-husband's dirty deeds. This went on for over 5 years.

 

Then one day, as she was getting dressed, she noticed an unusual spot on her chest. She quickly made an appointment with a dermatologist. In the days leading up to her appointment her mind raced with thoughts of skin cancer and dying. She thought of her two grown children and how terrible it would be leaving them. Then she thought of her ex-husband.

 

Suddenly, it hit her; Did she really hate him so much that she could leave this earth without resolving her issues with him? She made the decision to call him and asked him to come over.

 

 For hours she let her feelings out and told him how much he had hurt her but she also told him that she would like to forgive him and be civil to one another for the sake for their children. He was stunned and tears welled up in his eyes. He was thrilled to finally be forgiven and no longer the target of his ex-wife's hatred.

 

Her two kids were also elated. For years they could not even tell their mother they were visiting their dad for fear it would upset her.

 

Fortunately, she does not have skin cancer. But it took a scare to turn her life around. She now feels lighter, like a giant weight has been lifted. Her ex has even offered to come over and help her with the pool in the backyard that needs work.

 

 This story has a happy ending, but most bitter divorce battles do not end up this way. Couples go on for years and years hating each other and holding on to anger and bitterness. In order to let go, you need to start over. Right where you are now. You have to let the past go. If you continually think about what your ex has done to you and all of the terrible things you have been through in your divorce, you keep those memories and feelings alive.

 

 As my friend has proved, anybody, even in the worst divorce cases, can forgive and let go. Hopefully you will not need a life threatening illness to wake up and realize that life is too short for grudges and hatred.

 

Find out the three things you must know to have a successful divorce outcome.....

by Christina-Rowe  225 Posts 
Posted on 6/30/2008 12:38 AM
Sent to Friendsend to friend
3

Tags: forgiving your ex , letting go , moving on , christina rowe ,
divorce advice , divorce advice for women
<< Previous Post  |  Blog posts by Christina-Rowe  |  Next Post >>


Comments for "Can You Forgive Your Ex and Let Go?"  (4) (You must be logged in to answer)




Alison. For myself I intellectually "get it" that God is the one who is the one to handle whatever misdeeds have been done to us. But I am failing in my spiritual side in embracing it,  God forgives anyone who seeks and asks for his forgiveness..and that includes even the most despicable person among us. So ideally I am suppose to forgive and trust and pray to that God will handle my troubles. And therein lies the struggle..Giving up my anger and relying on my faith to embrace this fundamental idea..And trust. My anger is a source of outlet at the frustration of this horrid stbx in the day to day existence of dealing with thids divorce...and I know when I angry I am not trusting God..but I am human and it's is hard..Then I inwardly feel guilty for not having rock solid faith.
by Wentopia   8 Posts
Posted on 7/17/2008 12:04 PM
Log in to Add Friends
0





Love this article! Can I forgive him? Well, maybe if he pays for my new boobs and a housekeeper. Haaa.... (I am in a silly mood tonight.)

No, I decide not to forgive him because he does not deserve it. I am a Buddist and in my book, forgiveness is not a free gift for the bad guys. If he wants to be forgiven, he will have to earn it from me. BUT I have let it go. The sooner I push him and his affair out of my mind, the sooner I start to recover. I let it go for the sake of my own happiness.

Wentopia, I understand your dilemma on this forgiveness issue. I am surrounded with many good Christians. What I do not understand is - if God can not and will not forgive everyone, how could we? He does send people to hell, right? To me, you are a good Christian even you can not forgive him. Your efforts in the process means everything.
by Alison   114 Posts
Posted on 7/13/2008 11:37 PM
Log in to Add Friends