This is an exerpt from another blog that I think could benefit us all....
" I never knew my biological father, he and my mom divorced when I was very young. I know that he was abusive and would physically beat my mom. I was never allowed to call him dad or daddy, only his first name. When my mom remarried, he signed over all his rights and allowed my step father to adopt me. Until recently I never realized all the resentment I held towards him.
When I was eighteen years old, my "aunt" contacted my mom and asked to see me. They did not believe that I had chosen not to make contact with them, though this time I agreed to meet them. My one condition was that my "father" was not to be there. I had taken a vow that I would physically hurt him if I ever saw him, I held all that anger all those years. The meeting was ok, nothing too exciting - though I felt they were disappointed in me. I was not overly excited about their crops or livestock, my brother was though they really did not want much to do with him and that offended me too.
My father actually showed up at my aunt's house while I was there and they asked me if I wanted to see him. Again I said no and he was asked to leave - I never saw him. The next day, this classy guy pushed my 90 something year old great grandmother down and then punched my aunt and broke her jaw. I guess some things never change. The really hard part to understand is that my grandparents made excuses for him, he has never been held responsible..."
This is taken from a post in the category "I Forgive..." I encourage you to view this blog and share your experiences too. Forgiving someone is truly a freeing and healing experience. The address for the other blog is http://batteredwarrior.typepad.com/forgiving/
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