One of the best parts about Christian truth and life is that forgiveness takes no time at all.
This does not mean that all temporal consequences are immediately over. But when you sin, you do not need to wait to deal with it, and you do not need to wait for God to forgive you. For that matter, you don’t need to wait to forgive those who sin against you.
In practice we sometimes act as if Time was the savior. And, in our person-to-person relationships, there is possibility that you (or the other person) might forget the offense after a while. This is a passive strategy. It is an uncertain faith that the heat of the moment will probably pass, emotions will likely cool off, and everyone will hopefully just move on at a later point.
If this was how actual forgiveness works, then wouldn’t we have to say that the wages of sin was postponed fellowship? Wouldn’t we conclude that Christ’s work on the cross was unnecessary? Wouldn’t it be true that a place like purgatory would be necessary?
Christians, have you sinned? Forgiveness has been purchased by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Fellowship with the Father can be restored right now. If you’ve sinned against someone in your household, in our community, because Jesus paid for your sin they don’t have to hold the grudge to make you pay. Confess your sin, ask for forgiveness.
Keep your accounts short, and your desire to seek forgiveness fast.