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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Forgiveness Is Not An Option

The other night I watched a little bit of a movie called Amish Grace... It was based on the true story of a gunman who walked into an Amish school and shot ten (10) Amish girls and then turned the gun on himself... Several of the girls died... The father of one of the girls who had died went to go visit the widow of the gunman along with a couple of the elders. He went to tell the widow that he has forgiven her husband and that he and his family were there for her - he offered her comfort... Because God has commanded him to forgive...

I remember many years ago listening to a Priest talk about his visits to different state prisons... He told the story of a woman who's daughter was raped and killed by an inmate.. After about a year into his incarceration the mother went to go see him... and through her tears she forgave him... She and the inmate kept in touch for several years...

I don't know if I would be capable of that kind of forgiveness... How difficult it must be... In one's sorrow it would be much easier to hold onto the anger... the hatred... at least I think it would be... I pray that I never have to test that thought...

Colossians 3:12-13 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you"

Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, "I repent," forgive him.

Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea..

6 comments:

Fitter After 50 said...

I watched the same movie and I wondered if that same forgiveness would have been there if the man would have lived. It was a tough movie and more so for a mother of a daughter I think.

Andrea said...

AMEN!!
Blessings, hugs, and prayers,
andrea

Denise said...

You are right..... not an option.. but in the forgiveness brings health to us...... How just like our Father God to asked us to do something so very difficult but then turn around and cause that action to bring healing to US........ HE will deal with the one that caused the pain........ Such freedom it brings... We must remember that when the forgiving is so painful....

karen said...

Girl.. you have no idea what this posting has taught me today. I am in the middle of the deepest sort of betrayal that a woman can go thru, and to forgive - my deepest emoton says NO WAY.. I am sitting here, in tears.. because I know to forgive is a freeing of the wounding in my heart right now, but I just simply do not know how to forgive this betrayal of a 30 year relationship with the one that says he loves me.. Sister. I know this movie is not the same as what I am going thru, but forgiveness is the same... and it was granted to be, out of my own sin, by the Lord - and I know I need to do the same thing, for the one thats wounded me like none other.. Thank you for sharing this blog today. I need to soak in its message.. I truly know God led you to post exactly what you wrote , for me..

Karen said...

I will have to check out this movie....

Mystic_Mom said...

Oh forgiveness can be such a challenge and yet such an unimaginable blessing when the weight of what happened can be given back to God for Him to take care of. That we don't have to carry it alone is grace I lean on. Bright blessings!

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