Yesterday, we talked about how taking responsibility without defending yourself can help in the process of genuinely reconciling with others. Today, I want to share a second thing that will assist you as you seek to live from a place of forgiveness: remember that it takes time.

Don’t expect people to forgive you the first time you apologize; very often they won’t and that’s okay. Just the step of asking for forgiveness begins to set you free. It’s never your right to be forgiven — it is a gift comes from the other person’s heart. The best thing you can do is assume a posture of humility and plant a seed of compassion. While you may not see any change immediately, rest assured that the individual heard what you said and that one, two or three years down the road, the sweet fruit of forgiveness might very well spring up in their soul.

Friend, don’t lose heart when humility does not immediately yield the desired outcome. Remember that the act of forgiving is a process and you are simply a planter of mercy seeds. Sow diligently and you will transform yourself and the lives of others, in God’s time!