"I don't think that forgiveness is earned. I think it is given. The only way this will ever end is when one of you decides to forgive the other out of generosity. When you need that more than you need to be right."
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Anne Cunningham (played by Tyne Daly) said that in the movie Undercover Christmas. On the whole, it was a typical corny made-for-television Christmas movie that had a predictable beginning, middle and end. You know the kind...the kind we all say ugggg too, but get sucked in and enjoy.
Anne was determined to repair the relationship between her FBI agent son Jake and her Judge and judgmental husband Joe. The two men had long since lost respect and even a bit of love for one another. Each man blamed the other. Neither would consider taking the first step toward forgiveness.
As only a mother can do, she delivered that line with love, frustration, anger, worry and angst...I really like Anne's take on the subject...and I think every family would benefit from adopting this healthy attitude on forgiveness.
Recently I tried to relate all of this to a group of people that are in the middle of a mess just like Jake and Joe. I did a pathetically poor job of delivery. I think the message is important. I decided to try to do it justice by putting it in print.
