In October of 2006 in the tiny Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pa., a man stormed into a one-room schoolhouse and shot 10 young girls, killing five. He then killed himself.
Since the tragedy, people around the world have been inspired by the way the Amish expressed forgiveness toward the killer and his family. The Amish community donated money to the killer’s widow and her three young children and went to the killer’s burial service at the cemetery. Several Amish families who had buried their own daughters just the day before were in attendance and they hugged the widow, and hugged other members of the killer’s family.
“But I can’t forgive. I will never forgive.”
You may be right. You may never be able to forgive that person who betrayed you, insulted you, destroyed your life. But you know what? By not forgiving, you are piling bitterness, depression and unhappiness onto the burning fire that the person who hurt you started. You’re drinking bitter gall, hoping your offender will be poisoned.
The most horrible injustice of all time became the most glorious blessing to humanity when Jesus, from the cross said, “Father, forgive them.” Because you and I have been forgiven for all of our many wrongs, we can now with honest serenity forgive others. Can’t we?
