I was at a young adult study tonight, and the topic of discussion was "revenge!" It was very interesting, because many times this topic is mostly overlooked. Especially in smaller circumstances. It's good to remember that vengence is not our responsibility, that we can trust God to take care of the situation. It can also be a hard topic to confront, because when people want revenge they tend to get offended, and angry with people that try to encourage them to forgive. I think the phrase that best sums up the topic of revenge is,

"Wanting revenge is like drinking a poison that hurts us instead of the person we seek the revenge for."

Revenge will consume you. It fills you with a Spirit that is not of God. Sometimes there needs to be space in relationships, especially when they are abusive. But forgiveness is our act of worship to God, and it honors him. It is a liberating experience. Instead of seeking revenge on others, seek peace. Revenge never really helps our situations as much as it makes it more climatic.