Process of healing after forgiving?

[Jacinto1977sd]

I just forgave my parents and let go of the anger that they caused me-they divorced when I was young and my Dad had a drug problem-he died of an overdose in 2005, and my Mom had/has a anger problem and drinks… and she never knew how to love me for who I was-a Child of God-and we never prayed together as a family or even talked-no intimacy as a family…

For other reasons I moved back in with my Mom-and live with her now-I’m the only child. and my Mom isn’t catholic. my Dad was-but lapsed/non-praciticing…

So, now that I’ve forgiven them, what should I do besides praying for them-their conversion?

Thanks…

 

[Christy_Beth]

Pray for them, and talk with you mom about faith. I think you’ll do just fine.

 

[EasterJoy]

It is OK to mourn what you went through, but not good to stay lodged in your mourning. You may also want to find ways to address the loss you suffered by finding some adults your parents’ age that you can have healthy relationships with. Sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn’t…it depends on the person. Be easy on yourself, and look for ways to cope with the loss–the temporal result of your parent’s offense against you–that help you to feel better.

IOW, just because you forgive someone for breaking your window does not make it selfish or a false forgiveness to try find a way to get the glass replaced. Addressing the damage done by an offender helps one to move on past the offense, even if the offender is not the one who gets the repairs done.

 

[Chantal25]

So, now that I’ve forgiven them, what should I do besides praying for them-their conversion?

It took me years to get it but when i started to do the rosary, Friday and Tuesday is the sorrowful mystery. Meditating on Jesus passion helped me a great deal in so many ways.

I pray for you to feel at peace and to know most of all how dear you are to God.

Blessings and love
-Chantal

 

[EasterJoy]

Meditating on Jesus passion helped me a great deal in so many ways.

This is one of the best ways to deal with the pain of rejection by people who ought to love you that I know. It does not stand alone, but there is nothing to replace meditating on the Passion, either.