Forgiveness

I know I already wrote about forgiveness the other day but this is a topic that is front and center in my life right now and it needs to be brought up again. I hope I do not get too redundant and I will try to bring it up in a new way.
In Matthew 18, Peter asks Jesus, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" Jesus told Peter to forgive (basically) as many times as needed. He gave him a number that translates to "times without number". Then He told Peter a parable about the punishment handed out to one who didn't forgive or show mercy as he had been shown. At the end of the story the unmerciful guy is punished and Jesus says that this could happen to us "unless we forgive from our heart".
I am a lot like Peter. I am brash and I do a lot of talking without thinking....stuff just spews out of my mouth sometimes. I too ask Jesus, "How many times must I forgive this person?" and He patiently replies, "as many times as it takes".
I find myself now trying to heed His command and forgive on a daily basis. I thought it would be easier than this. I thought if I turned over my anger and resentment to Him and forgave based on that then I would be done with it. No, I have to wake up every day and choose in my heart to forgive those who have wronged me. I have to choose mercy every day just as Jesus does with me. I can not put conditions on my forgiveness........imagine if Jesus put conditions on His forgiveness of us!!
I can choose to forgive and act in loving ways and be free.