Forgiveness

Does anyone remember a shooting that happened about a year ago that involved a man killing some children at an Amish school in Pennsylvania? A man came into the small school house and held a dozen students hostage and killed 5. He then killed himself and left a suicide note for his wife to read. When something like this happens the victims relatives, give angry press interviews praying hell on the criminal, and states start to consider tighter gun laws. But here is the reaction of the mothers and others who were connected to the killings that happened that awful day:

"As they struggle with the slayings of five of their children in a one-room schoolhouse, the Amish in this Lancaster County village are turning the other cheek, urging forgiveness of the killer and quietly accepting what comes their way as God's will."

"The hurt is very great,... "But they don't balance the hurt with hate."

"In the aftermath of Monday's violence, the Amish are looking inward, relying on themselves and their faith, just as they have for centuries. They hold themselves apart from the modern world, and have as little to do with civil authorities as possible. "

I read this and I was amazed! A pastor at my church mentioned this incident on a sermon he was preaching about forgiveness. Could I or anyone of you be able to forgive a man who shot your child, or sibliing, or even your parents? I battle with forgiveness over gossiping "friends" or mistreatment from my opposite gender. Have mercy on my soul. Anyone who has done me wrong, Over time I have forgiven them.That's just in my nature.But it's one of the hardest things I've ever done. I am just learning that we should pray for the ones who hurt us, and lift the situation to God. The drama is not really with me and that person. It's that never ending battle between good and evil for my happiness or my self destruction. Me hating is letting Satan win. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Give it to God to handle because I know if I had my way I would cut them out of my life and never be concerned with their existence again. But thats not how God wants us to be. After reading this article, I look at the grudges I hold, and find them to be quite petty and insignificant. Is it all really worth it? I don't think so.We could be unforgiving and be bound by the shackles of hatred.Or we could realize that the same chains we bind ourselves with, we also have the keys for. I choose freedom.