How to forgive my friend?

[melvfe]

Hi everyone

I broke up recently with my friend. We were having a great conversation, and suddenly, halfway through, she told me that she was hurt when I told her some insensitive remark about her half a day ago. I apologised to her and told her that it was unintentional, and that I would be more careful with my words. However, she then proceeded to block me on social media, and now has cut off contact with me completely.

I am feeling really hurt. I do want to seek her forgiveness, but she’s leading a lifestyle that I do not like. We’re both Catholics, though. I don’t know whether I should go and find her, or wait for her to reconcile with me again.

What is the next step that I should take? I’ve been having a lot of nightmares and feeling really sad.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I would suggest praying for your friend and leaving her alone. Putting blocks up like that suggests she is uncomfortable with continuing the friendship. If you and she are disagreeing over her lifestyle, it may be that she’s upset by that and doesn’t want to stay friends.

You can forgive her by simply forgiving her in your heart. Forgiveness is not the same as trying to continue the friendship, though. I would say let the friendship go unless she makes a move to return.

As for you seeking her forgiveness, you apologized sincerely and you don’t need to do anything else. Like I said, I suspect there’s more to this than you making one insensitive remark.

 

[Convert3]

Wise words from @Tis_Bearself

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Agree. Give her space. On the recieving end of being blocked it can feel very personal, but its usually less about punishing an offender and more about protecting one’s own mental health.

View her as someone hurting/struggling and pray for her well being.

 

[1ke]

However, she then proceeded to block me on social media, and now has cut off contact with me completely.

It’s a difficult lesson to learn, but not every friend we make remains in our circle forever. Some people are friends only for a time, and then they move on or we do.

I do want to seek her forgiveness

You already apologized, and you didn’t do anything intentionally. Let it go.

I don’t know whether I should go and find her, or wait for her to reconcile with me again.

Just leave it alone.

 

[melvfe]

Thank you so much for your advice! I’ve had a hunch all along that she’s difficulties communicating her true emotions properly.