What happened to the stories of childhood where that knight in shining armor swept you off your feet and carried you off on his glowing white horse? Perhaps you were blessed with just such a knight, but soon came to realize that even knights have their issues and horses leave little messes around the yard.

Even the best of relationships encounter occasional rough road. It's what we do in those situations that determine the depth that relationship will ultimately reach. Throughout our lives, no matter how hard we try not to, we will, on occasion, cause pain or frustration to those we love. Be that a child to their parents, parent to their children, to your spouse or to friends, or even those we don't even know personally, intentional or unintentional. We don't have the ability to control those around us, or the power to compel them to be perfect, or even to fix everything they do wrong. We only have the ability to control ourselves and to make a conscious decision on how we will let their actions affect our lives.

One of the most powerful principles in relationships is that of forgiveness. No matter how severe or miniscule an act, as we open our hearts and forgive those around us who may have hurt us, not only will you be able to move forward in your life with peace, but perhaps the one who offended will soon be able to forgive themselves and the bond that you share with them will be even stronger than before.

Don't waste precious time dwelling on errors of the past. Free yourself of the anger or frustration of those actions that offend you. For it is only in forgiveness that true love can reach the heights of that "shining armor" relationship we dreamed of as a child.