Description
When a heinous act is committed, sometimes one wonders if forgiveness is even possible. Lewis B. Smedes would certainly advise it. "When we forgive," he says, "we set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner we set free is us." In an easy-to-read yet astute analysis of the meaning and value of forgiveness, Smedes teaches the reader that more than anything, forgiveness is a way of healing. He takes as his model the Judeo-Christian God and outlines the many subtleties involved in forgiveness, such as distinguishing anger from hate, and noting that we only forgive those we blame (including ourselves). Forgetting may be more difficult, but at least The Art of Forgiving can help us along the path toward release and healing. From the Inside Flap Smedes writes about forgiveness like no one has ever written about it before. There is no better book in the English language about this subject, which, if properly mastered, can change the face of human relationships."xa0xa0 --Neil Clark Warrenxa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0Author of The Triumphant Marriage and Make Anger Your Ally If you are ready to make peace with those who have hurt or betrayed you, there can be no finer road map than this thoroughly practical book. Lewis Smedes brings true forgiveness, "Gods own gift," within the capacity of every wounded person, even in circumstances when only hate seems possible. With inspiring words, he leads you through the three stages of forgiveness and helps you understand:Why we forgive (often the person who benefits most is the forgiver) What we do when we forgive (perhaps not what we expect) & "Lewis Smedes writes about forgiveness like no one has ever written about it before. There is no better book in the English language about this subject, which, if properly mastered, can change the face of human relationships." --Neil Clark Warren Author of The Triumphant Marriage and Make Anger Your Ally If you are ready to make peace with those who have hurt or betrayed you, there can be no finer road map than this thoroughly practical book. Lewis Smedes brings true forgiveness, "Gods own gift," within the capacity of every wounded person, even in circumstances when only hate seems possible. With inspiring words, he leads you through the three stages of forgiveness and helps you understand: Why we forgive (often the person who benefits most is the forgiver) What we do when we forgive (perhaps not what we expect) Whom we forgive (only those who directly wrong us)How we forgive (we start by owning our pain) Using many dramatic examples drawn from life, this wise author illuminates, step by step, the healing path to peace and freedom. "Altogether a wonderfully wise and enabling book, one of Smedes's very best. The Art of Forgiving is itself a work of art. Throughout my reading I found myself exclaiming, 'That never occurred to me, but yes, that's right!' I felt as if I were being led by an extraordinarily lucid and perceptive guide on a tour through the land of forgiveness." --Nicholas Woltersdorff Professor of Philosophical Theology The Divinity School, Yale University Lewis B. Smedes , former professor of theology and ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary, is the author of numerous books, including Forgive and Forget and How Can It Be All Right When Everything Is All Wrong? Read more
Features & Highlights
- "Lewis Smedes writes about forgiveness like no one has ever written about it before. There is no better book in the English language about this subject, which, if properly mastered, can change the face of human relationships." --Neil Clark Warren Author of
- The Triumphant Marriage
- and
- Make Anger Your Ally
- If you are ready to make peace with those who have hurt or betrayed you, there can be no finer road map than this thoroughly practical book. Lewis Smedes brings true forgiveness, "Gods own gift," within the capacity of every wounded person, even in circumstances when only hate seems possible. With inspiring words, he leads you through the three stages of forgiveness and helps you understand:Why we forgive (often the person who benefits most is the forgiver) What we do when we forgive (perhaps not what we expect) Whom we forgive (only those who directly wrong us)How we forgive (we start by owning our pain) Using many dramatic examples drawn from life, this wise author illuminates, step by step, the healing path to peace and freedom. "Altogether a wonderfully wise and enabling book, one of Smedes's very best.
- The Art of Forgiving
- is itself a work of art. Throughout my reading I found myself exclaiming, 'That never occurred to me, but yes, that's right!' I felt as if I were being led by an extraordinarily lucid and perceptive guide on a tour through the land of forgiveness." --Nicholas Woltersdorff Professor of Philosophical Theology The Divinity School, Yale University
