A childhood accident caused poet Elizabeth Barrett to lead a life of semi-invalidism before she married Robert Browning in 1846. There's more to the story. In her youth, Elizabeth had been watched over by her tyrannical father. When she and Robert were married, their wedding was held in secret because of her father's disapproval. After the wedding the Brownings sailed for Italy, where they lived for the rest of their lives. But even though her parents had disowned her, Elizabeth never gave up on the relationship. Almost weekly she wrote them letters. Not once did they reply. After 10 years, she received a large box in the mail. Inside, Elizabeth found all of her letters; not one had been opened! Today those letters are among the most beautiful in classical English literature. Had her parents only read a few of them, their relationship with Elizabeth might have been restored.

It is difficult to imagine how hard her fathers’ heart must have stayed to receive those letters and never even open a single one. He must have known breaking the seal on even one of those precious letters would have broken his resolve and possibly his heart. But in the breaking of his heart, he might have had an opportunity to heal his family and mend both his own broken heart and the broken heart of his daughter.

Is there anyone seeking forgiveness from you?