I am not sure that they always are completely forgiven by the people whose lives they damaged while at their worst. Perhaps we sometimes forgive knowing that their losses, though often self induced, were fairly significant, hoping for a better future.

Often while forgiving, we also extract them from our lives, or put them at a distance. So perhaps forgiveness is the least we can do.

Not sure, really. But also not sure as I said earlier that they are always completley forgiven by others.

As far as those of us who never fall into that...I think of the prodigal son. Sometimes when I see someone who malingers be rewaraded for what I do all the time anyway, I simply give thanks that I am in a place where that is what I do all day everyday anyway...jmho