Heavenly Father,

In the oppressive silence of this evening,
as anger wells unbidden from places unvisited by grace,
teach me to forgive.

Take unsifted the memories of confusion and abandonment
that have haunted me, unrestrained,
and take them into Your eternal safekeeping,
that I may have the courage to look again at life
in hope and not in bitterness, in peace and not in hate.

Grant me, then, dear Father,
the freedom that comes with forgiveness.
Remind me always that with every vengeful thought
I nurture in my heart,
I serve only to strengthen the shackles
that bind me to the prisons of yesterday's fury--
a prison where neither hope nor light nor joy nor peace abides.

Finally, dear Father, as I pray for the courage to forgive,
and the freedom gained from forgiving,
I ask that You be present as I struggle in this journey--
For I know that I cannot forgive without Your grace,
and I cannot be free without Your love.

In the name of Him whose life has taught us to forgive,
and whose death has set us free.

Amen.