Forgiveness

I mentioned before that I've been participating in a study of the book Bad Girl's of The Bible every Wednesday night. Tonight the topic of Forgiveness was mentioned and the gears in my head started turning. I wondered why it is so hard for people to forgive one another.
I confess that there are people in my past and present that I haven't forgiven yet. Without naming names I'll give some examples. When I was a kid and on into my teenage years and adulthood there was a man who did things that made me feel very uncomfortable. I'm not talking about actual abuse, but inappropriate gestures that molded the way I felt about my body and my awareness of how it might affect boys & men. I despised him. He is dead now, but I know I haven't forgiven him for the way he treated me. There is a woman in my life that tries to insert herself between my husband and I. There was a man who attacked me and said that if I ever became one, I would be a bad mom. I don't dwell on these things on a daily basis, but when they do come to mind - there is a darkness that shadows my heart. Unforgiveness.
The Bible says:
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14
So, The Lord commands me to forgive others.
It's not exactly an easy thing to say your sorry, but it's even harder to ask for forgiveness. One is admitting that you are wrong and the other is giving someone else control over closure in the situation. I'm actually not bad at saying sorry, but I rarely ask for forgiveness because I'm a control freak.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Confessing, or saying "I messed up" and then receiving God's forgiveness. Notice it doesn't say, "confess and then you have to request forgiveness". We should ask Him to forgive us each time we sin because (if you are a christian) we have a relationship with Him, but God readily forgives us. We should also be so eager to forgive others. And to receive forgiveness.