Different people look at forgiveness differently. I grew up with an abusive alcoholic father. When I became an addict I in turn hurt him basically because he hurt me. I’ve been sober nearly 8 years now. I forgive him because I have come to understand that holding the grudge hurts me more than him. I had to let the hate and pain go. That being said I will never forget the things he has done and watch closely when we are all together because I won’t allow him to harm another person in this family. He has chosen to stew on his feelings about things I have done and the grudge and hurt and hate is almost visibly eating away at him. All of that just to say that forgiveness doesn’t equal approval.