Forgiveness [Matthew 6v9-15 ]

I was struck with something I read recently, by my favourite writer, Philip Yancey on forgiveness, he wrote, [forgiveness is achingly diffiicult, and long after you are forgiven, the wound lives on in the memory. Forgiveness is an unnatural act].Why should anyone forgive? in the Old Testament, the Lord commanded Israel, to provide cities of refuge, were those guilty of manslaughter could go and be safe from the avenger, if they stepped out side that refuge they could legally be put to death. I read someone recently saying about having vengeance on those who were guilty for the death of his son, vengeance is the natural reaction, getting even appears the right way, the natural way, but then we look on the cross, we see Gods Son , nailed to that cross, we hear Him speak the words , forgive them, this is not the natural thing to say , but it is Gods way, so today are we going to choose the natural way or Gods way?.[ Father we find it hard to forgive those who hurt us, or hurt those we love, help us forgive as we have been forgiven in Jesus name we ask this, Amen.]