The Other Side of Forgiveness
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Life is trial and error. It is important to extend kindness to ourselves when life puts us in situations we are not equipped to handle. I made mistakes in my journey, many because I was too inexperienced, naïve, and had no frame of reference by which to act. There was no logical explanation to address why these things happened to me. No excuses were good enough, and generic platitudes sounded ineffectual. As I moved through the journey, there were times I could only see one step ahead, without clarity or certainty that I would ever progress beyond my trauma.
Hindsight is a cruel beast and a great teacher. I can see now that there were things I should have done and not done to hasten the journey. I don’t have the opportunity to do things differently, but I can highlight the lessons learned to help you determine if any apply to you. I did the best I could with what I knew then and with the degree of healing I had at that time. I choose not to dwell on regrets, knowing that indulging in those thoughts will impede continued progress. Although my journey was unique, I believe many of the same hindrances I experienced can delay healing in others.
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About the Book
To author Laura L. Groves, the idea of coping, adapting, or surviving were terms used by those in the secular world who neglected to understand what it meant to thrive as a victor in Christ. She didn’t want to be viewed as a survivor of child sexual abuse or one who survived the death of her mother when she was a young teenager. To her, merely surviving was not enough.
The Other Side of Forgiveness recounts how Groves successfully navigated the journey from a life of anxiety, depression, self-loathing, and unforgiveness to face God’s challenges with obedience, faith, and integrity. At various stages in the journey, she felt she had reached the final step, completing His seemingly impossible charge. She found the courage to follow His instructions and directives while keeping the hope of His promises in mind. Though finding forgiveness and living as a victor seemed conclusive, the journey wasn’t complete until the last chapter of this book was completed.
The Other Side of Forgiveness represents the final step in this leg of her journey. Groves tells the events of her experience through insights, scripture, and entries she journaled at key times in the process. She seeks to help others avoid the delays and obstacles to forgiveness that she experienced.
About the Author
Laura L. Groves earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in music from Ball State University. She retired from thirty-six years as an elementary music teacher, having written the musical productions for her students to perform. Groves is active in her church as a teacher and leads praise and worship in various venues. She resides in Kokomo, Indiana, where she provides private lessons in music and art.