Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don't Deserve (Plus) Paperback – September 25, 2007

This was recommended by my pastor, and it is well worth the investment. The author deals with a difficult daily subject in life, and speaks as if he knows the reader. He covers a multitude of situations from which we derive hurt and anger, and addresses them with compassionate understanding, empathy, and explanation. This is a book necessary for the path of healing. Of course, Biblically, it's not really "forgive and forget", it's "forgive and don't call to mind", which is equally accessible through these teachings. I recommend too.

Don’t let the title of this book fool you. Lewis Smedes has written a very thought-provoking book that focuses on the point that we are depriving ourselves of our own happiness if we do not learn the art of forgiveness. Merely saying the words “I forgive you” doesn’t magically make the wounds disappear. It is a process that takes time and Lewis Smedes allows us to look at forgiveness in a different light, as if it was medicine for our heart and soul, instead of thinking of it as being weak by backing down to someone or giving in to someone whom we know is wrong.I read this book after I had been hurt by someone who played a significant role in my life. It, by no means, instantly healed me but I found this book most helpful for its way of describing the hurts we experience and offering practical ways of understanding that hurt. The art of forgiveness is very important to learn and this book continues to help me in the healing process and with letting go of the anger I felt towards that person.I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever been hurt by someone they love... and who hasn’t experienced that at some point in their life.

This book was recommended by David Jeremiah. If you are having issues of unforgiveness, this book spells out remedies for you, and the typical processes you will go through. Especially concerning those who will not acknowledge what they have done to you. Remember, God says forgiveness is required

Overall, as a therapist I do like this book. It mentions God a lot, so I would say it’s more geared towards people who are religious. It breaks down the components of forgiveness and talks about things that do or do not deserve forgiveness. I will be using it for a client who is recovering from meth addiction. They are holding onto resentment towards their partner for things that their partner has done while high. The client wants to stay in the relationship and we have been working through forgiveness.

I bought this book and read it in one day. A lot of very helpful and thought provoking content. I especially appreciated the Forgiving God chapter... I had never thought of my suffering being shared by him... I don't think I had ever been so angry with him as I was over the past 5 months...I like that throughout the book, different types of forgiveness are discussed... that it's okay to be angry even when you've forgiven someone. I was having a tough time with that. Also, that we don't have to see things from the other person's perspective to forgive them. It's not about them. It's about the hurt/pain that we have experienced and how to move on and heal. I realized that I am so happy I'm human and very much alive. I can feel, hurt, survive the pain, and love again/still. I feel sorry for those that cannot. Most likely, they need to read this book as well. I will re-read it, or selected portions, many times over.

Such a deep and thorough examination of the different layers of both forgiveness and reconciliation. A MUST read for anyone who is in a position of mentoring/advising other people regarding these matters.

I read this as did one of my clients. It is very helpful in that it provides powerful empathy. It is very depressing however because it uses case examples

This is a really good book and I applaud Luis speeds for his talent in bringing fruit give and fruit get to light in an easy to understand way really help me a lot. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is considering make an amends with your past.