If your close relative steals from you

[geeorge]

I have a pretty good temper when I am screwed over, people that know me don't screw me over

[SC Tiger]

On 9/4/2019 at 10:20 AM, gwalchmai said:

Do you forgive him? Even if he never acknowledges the theft or attempts to make restitution?

Asking for a friend.

One of the biggest fallacies or misunderstood phrases is "Forgive and forget."

You can forgive.  The Bible calls for us to forgive.  Forgiveness is good for you in that it keeps the anger from eating you up.  If he can't/won't pay it back, you may as well in the end.

BUT - that doesn't mean you forget.  It doesn't mean you don't hide the money when this relative is around, take away any access they have to your accounts, etc.  You can forget in the sense you don't actively remind them of it but you still take precautions.  

And it doesn't mean you don't try to get the money back through any legal means (lawsuit, etc) - assuming it's enough that it would be worth it.

Edited September 9, 2019 by SC Tiger