 Spiritual: March 14, 2012 Issue [#4913] |
  Spiritual
This week: I Forgive You Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Spiritual Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your guest editor this week. |
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"Forgiveness is the final form of love." ~ Reinhold Niebuhr
On October 2, 2006, 32-year-old Charles Karl Roberts IV entered a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. After he allowed all the boys to leave, he tied the girls' feet together and proceeded to shoot them one by one before turning the gun on himself. Of the ten girls shot, five survived.
That same day members of the Amish community visited the Roberts family, and more than thirty attended the killer's burial. Many of those in attendance were parents of the victims.
"It was a very, very difficult place, and a very desperate place, and in the middle of that situation, 8:00 or 9:00 that evening, the Amish neighbor walked in. Grace walked in the door. And with grace walking in the door, hope walked in the door. That was the effect of him coming and saying, 'Chuck,' specifically Charlie's dad, you know, 'we will forgive you.'" ~ Dwight Lefever, the Roberts family's pastor (from PBS's The Amish: American Experience).
I remember watching the horrific scene unfold live on cable news. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to harm the Amish, let alone Amish children. They are pacifists--simple people who keep to themselves and pose a threat to no one. I couldn't wrap my head around it, but in the hours, days, and weeks that followed, the entire nation was blessed by the love, grace, goodness, and unconditional forgiveness the Amish community extended to the killer and his family. It was humbling.
Forgiveness isn't easy and may be mistaken for weakness, but truly forgiving someone who wronged you is a sign of incredible inner strength. Anyone can hold a grudge, but it takes courage to forgive.
We are human. We all make mistakes. Each and every one of us has said or done something to hurt someone else, and we've all been hurt by others, but holding onto pain, hatred, and resentment only exacerbates the suffering. None of the losses or hardships I've endured in my lifetime even come close to what the parents of those murdered children endured that day ... and continue to endure. If they can find it in their hearts to forgive, surely I can, too.
"Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself." ~ Suzanne Somers
Thank you for reading.
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Please enjoy this week's featured selections and remember to do the authors the courtesy of reviewing the ones you read. Thank you, and have a great week!
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fictional look at forgiveness- left openended because it was used for a discussion group
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The following is in response to "Spiritual Newsletter (February 15, 2012)" :
ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy says, "Thank you for the important message. I feel the same about Gene Wilder's Willie Wonka. Glad you mentioned it. It would be wonderful if children could maintain that innocent acceptance. Adults can help that to happen for the next generation, if only they will. Thanks again for the message you gave us." Thank you, Ann! I'm glad you liked it. Have a blessed week. 
Steve adding writing to ntbk. says, "Thanks for sharing from the heart and bringing to light the good and bad that is present in our lives. Your selections this time were used as fodder for reviewing and this writer is thankful for the time it takes to find these gems of other writers' hearts. Copenator out!" Thank YOU, Steve, for taking the time to read and comment. And thank you for reading the featured stories! We have so many talented writers on the site, and it's an honor to highlight a few of them.
Katya the Poet  says, "Loved this Willie Wonka reminder, for all kinds of reasons! Thank you!" Yay! Glad you enjoyed it, Katya. Thanks for reading. 
darkin says, "Very nice newsletter. I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for highlighting my short story." It was my pleasure, Darkin. Thank YOU!
Elphee says, "You know, I too enjoyed the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Little House on the Prairie and the simpler things in life. Of course in today's world, things like respect, kindness,forgiveness and understanding are harder to come by. I find that children are becoming more hardened at a younger age. Is this because of the things that they watch? How the world of today has changed into more media? Makes one wonder what the world has to offer. The children of today are nothing like the children of yesterday. The innocence of childhood is something to be cherished." That's a great question, Elphee. My brothers and I weren't allowed to watch violent films when we were children, but nowadays it's common to see children as young as ten watching things like Saw and Final Destination. I think kids are so desensitized by the time they reach their teens that nothing shocks them. It's unfortunate; once those images are in your head they're there forever. I'd rather fill mine with beauty and love and gratitude and hope and faith in the goodness of mankind. And I couldn't agree with you more: we as parents should guard our children's innocence with everything we have. It is a precious gift. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Namaste.
Dennis Cardiff says, "Dear Shannon, these are wonderful words to live by. Day by day I try to follow their message and am greatly rewarded. Cheers." Aw, thank you so much, Dennis! Peace and blessings to you and yours.
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