--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the time, I didn't know what…" description: "\"At the time, I didn't know what forgiveness meant. I wouldn't really know what forgiveness meant for another year, until my pastor, Rick McKinley, happ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/donald-miller-607_another-year_at-the-time-i-didn-t-know-what-forgivene_814898.png" --- # At the time, I didn't know what forgiveness meant. I… ![“At the time, I didn't know what forgiveness meant. I wouldn't really know what forgiveness meant for another year, until my pastor, Rick McKinley, happened to spell it out in a sermon. He said that when you forgive, you bear the burden somebody has given you without holding them accountable.” quote by Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/donald-miller-607_another-year_at-the-time-i-didn-t-know-what-forgivene_814898.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/donald-miller-607_another-year_at-the-time-i-didn-t-know-what-forgivene_814898.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/donald-miller-607_another-year_at-the-time-i-didn-t-know-what-forgivene_814898.png) > “At the time, I didn't know what forgiveness meant. I wouldn't really know what forgiveness meant for another year, until my pastor, Rick McKinley, happened to spell it out in a sermon. He said that when you forgive, you bear the burden somebody has given you without holding them accountable.” [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness is described as taking on another's burden without demanding accountability, freeing both parties. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness means bearing a hurt without blame. Key Takeaway Practice forgiveness to release resentment. Themes forgiveness burden accountability Mood thoughtful serene Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal healing - relationship repair Key Concepts spirituality emotional health Questions to Reflect On - When is it healthy to forgive? - How do you protect yourself while forgiving? A Different Perspective Forgiving may enable continued harm if boundaries aren't set. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Another year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-year/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Mckinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mckinley/) [Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I've never stabbed, hurt, killed, stolen, anything, but I went to jail for a year. What is that? My pastor said to me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foxy-brown/i-ve-never-stabbed-hurt-killed-stolen-anything-but-i-went-to-jail-for/) [Foxy Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foxy-brown/) > [The clipping said forgiveness meant that God is for giving, and that we are here for giving too, and that to withold love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/the-clipping-said-forgiveness-meant-that-god-is-for-giving-and-that/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“During my first year as a pastor I performed funerals for 50 church members—and they were the wrong ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bell/during-my-first-year-as-a-pastor-i-performed-funerals-for-50-church/) Roy Bell > [There are curveballs that are thrown at you, and you just have to get over it and forgive... if you believe you're perfect, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-wilkinson/there-are-curveballs-that-are-thrown-at-you-and-you-just-have-to-get/) [Kendra Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-wilkinson/) > [A stranger can see in an instant something in you that you might spend years learning about yourself. How awful we all are when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-elliott/a-stranger-can-see-in-an-instant-something-in-you-that-you-might/) [Stephen Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-elliott/) > [Forgiveness is a stunning principal, your ticket out of hate and fear and chaos. I know what regret feels like; I've earned my credentials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/forgiveness-is-a-stunning-principal-your-ticket-out-of-hate-and-fear/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [“You heard form Jacob these days?" "No, which is the way I wish it to be," Aaron said quietly. Ephram shook his head. "He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-picoult/you-heard-form-jacob-these-days-no-which-is-the-way-i-wish-it-to-be/) [Jodie picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-picoult/) > [“And yet we know that forgiveness is a foundation stone in the kingdom of God. It’s absolutely critical. 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To know this is forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/i-also-am-other-than-what-i-imagine-myself-to-be-to-know-this-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but, to my thinking, that can only mean as you're to give up all thoughts o' taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-know-forgiveness-is-a-man-s-duty-but-to-my-thinking-that-can-only/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [You will know that forgiveness and healing has begun when you recall those who have hurt you and feel the power to wish them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/you-will-know-that-forgiveness-and-healing-has-begun-when-you-recall/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [Forgiveness is a stunning principle, your ticket out of hate and fear and chaos. ... I know what regret feels like; I've earned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/forgiveness-is-a-stunning-principle-your-ticket-out-of-hate-and-fear/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [Forgive: if you never know forgiveness, You'll never know the blessings that God gives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/forgive-if-you-never-know-forgiveness-you-ll-never-know-the-blessings/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More by Donald Miller > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I think each of us can, through our writing, discover our super power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-think-each-of-us-can-through-our-writing-discover-our-super-power/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [If you don't feel free and be yourself, you can't connect. Find people who accept your quirks. 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