24 Sep, 2007
Real forgiveness
Do we live out what we believe?
Amish donate cash to school gunman’s widow
PHILADELPHIA - An Amish community that lost five girls in a Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting massacre last year has donated money to the widow of the gunman.
The Nickel Mines Accountability Committee, which was set up to handle more than $4.3 million in donations from around the world after the shootings, said it had given an unspecified "contribution" to Marie Roberts, a mother of three.
Her husband, Charles Carl Roberts, a local milk truck driver who was not Amish, tied up and shot 10 Amish schoolgirls aged 6 to 14 in their classroom last Oct. 2, killing five of them before turning the gun on himself.
After the shootings, members of the deeply religious Amish community in Lancaster County about 60 miles west of Philadelphia, said they wanted to forgive the gunman.
In a statement released on behalf of the community, the committee said, "Many from Nickel Mines have pointed out that forgiveness is a journey, that you need help from your community of faith and from God ... to make and hold on to a decision not to become a hostage to hostility.
"It is understood that hostility destroys community," it said.
The Amish, descendants of Swiss-German settlers, eschew many aspects of modern life such as cars and telephones, and place particular importance on the principle of forgiveness.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story freerepublic.com, 9/15/07
Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)
14
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about forgiveness?
Jesus makes it real plain, even though it seems far from simple. If we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. Why?
Because when we don't forgive others, we are acting as if we don't need God's forgiveness just as much as those who have sinned against us. God forgives us because of His mercy and grace. His forgiveness is not the direct result of us forgiving someone else, but it is based on our willingness to come clean and repent of our own sin.
Have you noticed that it is much easier to ask God to forgive us than it is to forgive others?
We know that Jesus forgave those who crucified Him. We believe what He taught about forgiveness. Are we living it? Abiding in Christ will make us want to forgive like Jesus forgives.
The updated story of the Amish giving money to the wife and children of the murderer who killed their loved ones in the school shootings is an amazing example of living out the words of Jesus.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Talk to God right now. Thank Him for His forgiveness for your sins through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Confess the lack of forgiveness toward others in your own life. Ask His Spirit to empower you to stay so connected to Jesus every day that you will forgive others as Jesus does.
- Whenever you ask God to forgive you of some sin, ask Him to remind you if you have forgiven someone who has wronged you?
- Keep a written journal for two weeks and answer these three questions every day: (1) Was I willing to love others like Jesus? (2) Am I willing to forgive those who wronged me today? (3) Am I trusting God because He is in control, no matter what?
How can we connect today's story and God's Story and our story to others?
- If someone needs your forgiveness, trust Jesus to give you the love you need to give it. If you need someone to forgive you, trust Jesus to give you the humility and courage you need to ask for it.
- Use this incredible story of the Amish being willing to forgive the murderer and now give money to his family as a conversation starter with someone in your storysphere (circle of influence). It should help you learn the story of someone else and give you the opportunity to share part of your story.
- Encourage your family, your small group, or your youth group to pray for the Amish community and the family of the murderer in Pennsylvania. Use this time to also pray for the need for your family or group to be able to forgive as Jesus forgives.
- August 2008 [19]
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