Forgiveness: A sign of strength or weakness?

I have heard people say that revenge rather than forgiveness is the way to go. Some will even go as far to say that forgiving someone is cowardly, or unmanly, foolish and shows weakness. Don't believe them. Those are the people that want to live in the past and keep everyone else there as well.

For you see, that forgiveness is actually the more, strong, courageous, honorable, mature and spiritual thing to do. When we refuse to forgive another's perceived transgressions all we are doing is continuing to allow those same transgressions to hurt us over and over again. We are literally giving them power to take not only our time and effort but our spirit as well. So then, those that have transgressed against us in the past get the advantage of doing it over and over again.

No, forgiveness is neither weak, cowardly nor foolish. It is what we must do if we are to continue to grow and become the best person we can be and that takes, strength, courage and vision.