Dan, either we're going to fight our battles or we're going to obey God's Word and let Him fight our battles.
According to the bible, the very best thing we can do is serve those who persecute us, as it is what Jesus did.
1 Pet 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:
Notice how often we're reminded that Jesus never had need of repentance or forgiveness?
Yet He without sin gave us an example to follow as those who do sin.
So, shouldn't we who do sin be willing to forgive others who also sin, when He who knew NO SIN forgave us ALL sin, so that He could live His life of forgiveness through us, as He did in the person of Jesus of Nazareth as the bible says?
It is only pride that keeps one from forgiving as they've been so richly forgiven.
Pride comes before destruction and this word for "destruction" is the Hebrew shever and equates to being broken or shattered and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
Now this word "stumbling" is very important, because unlike a fall it is a hindered walk by its very definition.
So, when we read in 1 Joh 2:10 the one who agapes (allows God to love through them) has no cause for "stumbling".
We also see this in 2 Pet 1
4 [f]For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral [g]excellence, and in your moral excellence,knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about Hiscalling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Dan, there's really no nice way of saying you must forgive as it is evidence of receiving God's forgiveness and by that the Holy Spirit.
i'm more than happy to share with you all the scriptural evidence to support this truth and it is so freeing to desire to be reconciled with the ones who hurt you most of all.
After all, that's what Jesus did and continues to do.
It is the ministry of reconciliation and unfortunately as we read in 2 Tim many are irreconcilable.
Blessings,
His servant