Is forgiving others basically a decision, such as a decision to be kind to the one who was unfair?
Decisions are part of forgiveness, but not the entire essence of forgiving. As a moral virtue, forgiveness includes thinking (a decision is a thought), feelings, motivation, and actions toward the one who was unjust. Here is an analogy to make it clearer. Suppose you decided to work in a soup kitchen to help people without homes. Your decision was made as you sat on our sofa watching television. If you do not follow through on that decision in your motivation to get up off the sofa at some point and behaviorally go to the soup kitchen, would you say that your decision alone was sufficient regarding assisting people without homes? Decisions need to be broadened with feelings about going forward, the motivation to do so, and the action consistent with all of this.
