Once they were gone, our parents could give way to their feelings.

We gave too much importance to ourselves and our feelings.

Or should I say that he was given to intuitive feelings about them?

In truth, they'd been too busy when they were together for him to give much thought to romantic feelings.

This might be their way of asking you to give voice to your feelings and to confront them.

When she was gone, he gave freer play to his feelings.

All he did was give certain priorities to thoughts and feelings that were already there.

She had given back to him feelings he had thought dead and gone.

It has no obligation beyond giving voice to feelings that already exist.

Either he would be able to give voice to his feelings, or he wouldn't.