Goodness Reflects Courage

The willingness to practice forgiveness is more than a learned behavior. To be successful, forgiveness must originate from within the goodness of a person and be accepted as a virtue. A virtue like honesty seldom exists as an independent entity but harmonizes with other virtues such as courage.

Aristotle ranked courage at the top of his list of important virtues. A virtue is a character strength that reflects integrity, moral steadfastness and spiritual commitment. C. S. Lewis said, "Right actions done for the wrong reasons do not help build the internal quality or character called a virtue." However, courage provides an incentive to do what is right, even when it isn't easy to do so.

You may be in a position to forgive a person who doesn't deserve it, but you do it as a courageous act of goodness. If a predisposition exists within you to practice goodness, then you will be encouraged to practice forgiveness. God wants you to have a clean heart, full of compassion with courage enough to seek forgiveness and to be forgiving.  

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Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.

~Deuteronomy 31:10 The Living Bible

If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.

~Romans 12:17 Good News Bible

Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.

~Ezra 10:4 New American Standard Bible