Three survivors of the snipers were interview by William Shatner about their lives. Their stories are beyond heartbreaking. Two of the survivors picked up the pieces since shot. I felt joy upon hearing how they are moving forward. Not that they don't have issues, but they are in tact.
One of the survivors, hasn't fared as well. Along with physical difficulties from thirty surgeries. She suffered a divorce and mental breakdowns that resulted in hospitalization. The courts decided she might hurt her daughter or herself . So she lost custody of her nine year old daughter. It was very emotional. I just wanted to reach into the TV and give her a hug.
While the three of them shared all shared the same traumatic experience. There's a difference between her and the other two survivors. They found a way to forgive, she couldn't. I don't make any judgement calls. I feel what she has endured was a direct result of being shot. Yet, I know it's more than that. Not forgiving has devastating consequences. Read this account on forgiveness found in Matthew 18:21-35.
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
The Father will do the same to us. Turn us over to the torturers. Not a misprint or poorly translated. Just a fact. God says I forgive you, you forgive others. It doesn't matter what act was done to us. Shot, beaten, cheated, lied on, lied to, betrayed, molested, raped, or robbed. Pick one and God still expects us to forgive.
Even William Shatner knew enough to point out she needed to forgive. He quoted a line familiar in the Christian church. "Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" Not only does unforgiveness kill the life God wants us to have, it also separates us from God.
"But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." Mark 11:26
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GREAT post!! Forgiveness is SO important...we just assume it's no big deal, but it is!
Wow, Analisa, that is a tough one. I like your idea of vocally telling God you do forgive, even if you don't feel like it. Sometimes the first small step is the hardest. The filp side-when we don't forgive, we are miserable.
Sometimes, the one who hurt you may not ask for forgiveness, thought that he has done no wrong or thought that you were the one who have done him wrong instead... Forgiveness is a gift God gave us to release us from the prison we've kept ourselves in. The prison of bitterness and pain, day in and day out we're being tortured by these if we can't let go. When Jesus hung on the cross, He showed us the way to forgive, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." I find myself willing to attempt to forgive, only when I realize that many times, these people don't know what they do! If they don't know what motivate them to hurt, why they do such things, then, there is no ground to hold a grudge against them isn't it? How can God accepts us if He doesn't overlook our ignorance? If we follow Jesus, we'll have to forgive people, receive healings ourselves and live the abundant life Jesus has in store for us. He wants to set captives free. Cherish and cultivate the gift of forgiveness, and you will learn to cope with life better because of changed perspectives. Bless you in sharing this, Analisa. :)
Excellent post Analisa. Unforgiveness keeps one in bondage. I can imagine it would be hard for this lady to forgive but it is not impossible. We can't rely on ourselves but on God to be able to forgive others. If He said that we must forgive then He provides the ability to do so.
Excellent! It is not necessary that forgiveness be requested. It is the injured party's welfare at stake. To consider that God will hold us responsible for offering forgiveness is absolute in the scriptures. Thanks for the reminder.
Wow, such a powerful post. I continue to struggle with unhappy feelings toward a not nice person from my past. I will try harder. Thank you so much.
Forgivness is very important and it is also important to note that forgivness doesn't always mean reconciliation. It's giving up that anger to God, letting it go, and refusing to revisit.
It's a process and sometimes a long process. The best litmus test to see if you have forgiven them is if you can see their face and not feel anger or not burst into tears over it. Then, following forgivness is what I like to call the healing journey. The wounds have stopped bleeding and its begun to heal together. That's the best part--the rebuilding of your life, the picking up and throwing out, the cleaning out of your soul of the things that will hold you back and the things that don't help you grow in God.
Great blog. It's not an easy process, especially when its a violent crime.
Forgivness is very important and it is also important to note that forgivness doesn't always mean reconciliation. It's giving up that anger to God, letting it go, and refusing to revisit.
It's a process and sometimes a long process. The best litmus test to see if you have forgiven them is if you can see their face and not feel anger or not burst into tears over it. Then, following forgivness is what I like to call the healing journey. The wounds have stopped bleeding and its begun to heal together. That's the best part--the rebuilding of your life, the picking up and throwing out, the cleaning out of your soul of the things that will hold you back and the things that don't help you grow in God.
Great blog. It's not an easy process, especially when its a violent crime.