It must be accepted that the nursing of resentments is a futile and harmful business. Interesting that “nursing” is used as it suggests a kind embrace, a sensitive nourishment of the very thing that will gradually and surely erode our sense of serenity and well-being.

It is ironic that the nursing of a resentment has no effect, does no damage to the person/situation resented; it only affects the one who carries the resentment. Resentment is a poison to the soul.

Resentment finds a covert place in all our relationships damaging friendships, committed relationships and our co-existence with our life situations -past and present.

Face the truth, be forgiving and forgiven – “with God all things are possible.”

In Christian scriptures there is the witness and warning of the wretchedness of resentment – “Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time” – Hebrews 12:15.

Below are comments made by Bill Wilson (co-founder of AA); the comments apply specifically to the addict (but who is not an addict in some way?) and generally to all people.

“It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison” – As Bill Sees It.