One Summer in Savannah

by Terah Shelton Harris

“Someone once said that forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” “Forgiveness takes more strength than anger.”

“My life here has allowed me plenty of time to come to terms with what happened, what I lost, how I wish I could change the past.” I look back at her. “But I’m learning that the way to do that is through forgiveness. And eventually, when we’re ready, we need to let go and forgive.”

Daniel and I find each other’s eyes. He lowers his head, nodding once, a thank you and an apology equally. And it’s enough for me. Forgiveness, I’ve learned, is like a door. You can open yourself up to it or close yourself off from it at any time. We can’t rewrite history or change the outcome. Life is a series of choices. And we live in and with those choices we make.