Cool Travel Mom Journey: The Winding Road of Forgiveness
There’s no such thing as a “happy place” when your heart is hurting.
I’ve been in beautiful places, surrounded by my favorite people, doing all the things that should make my soul light up. But if I’m honest… The pain still followed me—because when your heart is carrying hurt from someone you love, no destination can fix that.
I used to think I could just flip a mental switch and say, “We’re good now.” But healing doesn’t work like that. Especially when the hurt comes from family, close friends—people who should’ve known better.
Maybe some people can forgive instantly. Maybe some can smile through betrayal or disrespect. But I’m not one of them. And maybe you aren’t either.
When you’ve been wounded, people will sometimes say, “Stop playing the victim.” But what if you’re not? What if you’re just doing your best to process the pain? What if you’re still trying to understand the why behind the wound?
Here’s what I’ve learned: you can’t just skip to the “everything’s fine” part. Healing takes time, and forgiveness doesn’t come from forcing it. It comes from surrender.
I had to realize that forgiveness isn’t saying what happened was okay. It’s not forgetting. It’s not pretending.
Forgiveness is freedom.
It’s saying, “God, I trust You to carry what I can’t.”
Last Sunday’s homily hit my heart like a whisper straight from Heaven:
“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34)
That’s not easy love. That’s not convenient love. That’s the love that looks past the pain, remembers the cross, and chooses mercy anyway.
And then, I remembered this beautiful quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta:
“If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.”
That’s it. That’s the message I keep coming back to.
Jesus, full of mercy, forgave the very ones who hurt Him. So if I’m really walking this faith journey, if I truly want to live in His light, then I have to learn how to forgive too.
When Playing the Victim Keeps You Stuck
Let’s talk real for a second—from a Catholic lens.
Playing the victim happens when we let the pain define us instead of refine us. When we relive the offense over and over, not to heal, but to justify staying angry or bitter.
It’s when we let unforgiveness become our identity—and forget that Christ already took on every injustice at the cross.
As Catholics, we’re not called to ignore pain. But we are called to rise with Christ, even when it’s hard. Even when we’re not ready. Even when we’re still hurting.
And here’s the truth:
You can forgive and still feel.
You can let go and still heal.
It may take time—a day, a year, or a season—but we have to stop choosing to stay stuck.
Because forgiveness isn’t about them.
It’s about your freedom, your growth, and your walk with God.
If your heart is still heavy, I see you. I feel you. And I want to ask you a question:
POLL: Where are you in your forgiveness journey?
1• Still hurting, not ready to forgive
2• Trying to let go, day by day
3• Forgiven, but still healing
4• Fully surrendered it to God
Drop a DM or comment if you want to talk more about it. You don’t have to walk this journey alone. We’re in this together—growing, healing, and choosing love, step by step.
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