Without forgiveness life is governed by... an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation. ~Roberto Assagioli
Last weekend, there was a violent act against an elderly woman here in town. She was 88 years old, had worked for over 50 years at the Rescue Mission downtown; in fact, she was the first female director of the mission. When she retired, she continued to volunteer and teach Bible study there.
Last Sunday, she was fatally beaten in her home by a woman from the mission whom she taught Bible studies to. Her neighbors heard her screaming for help, went to the house and the alledged attacker stated that the woman was gone to church. The neighbors called the police, and she was found deceased in her back yard.
The woman who beat her left the scene before the police arrived, but later turned herself in to the police and confessed.
I wrote about this because on the day of the woman's funeral, her family prayed for the woman who had killed their beloved great grandmother, grandmother and mother. When I heard that, all I could say was "Wow." To be able to forgive, so soon, such a heinous act, they are better than I probably could be at that moment. I know we should forgive, and I would be able to eventually, but just a few days after I don't know if I could be that strong.
One of the daughters said that she did not hold any hatred in her heart for the woman who killed her mother; she said that hatred just grows like a cancer.
Again, WOW, they were this forgiving at the funeral of their loved one. Can you honestly say you could do the same?
1 comment:
I wish I could be that way. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm not. I still to this day hold animosity toward the doctors that allowed my father to die when I kept pleading with them to PAY ATTENTION to the symptoms. Put the woman is right, it grows like a cancer. And it affects every area of your life. It sure is something to think about.
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