Forgiveness...

To obtain forgiveness, we must have a merciful spirit:

On Monday morning, October 2, 2006, a gunman entered a one-room Amish school in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. In front of 25 horrified pupils, Charles Roberts ordered the boys and the teacher to leave the room. After tying the legs of the 10 girls who remained, Roberts prepared to shoot them execution style. The eldest girl (13 years old), begged Roberts to “shoot me and let the little ones go.” Refusing, he opened fire on all of them, killing five and leaving the others critically wounded. He then shot himself as police stormed the building. We now know he was angry at God for taking his own little daughter...this was what he told the girls before the massacre.

The story captured the attention of media around the world. By Tuesday morning some fifty television crews had clogged the small village and stayed a total of 5 days...until the girls and their killer were buried.

The blood was barely dry on the schoolhouse floor when Amish parents brought words of forgiveness to the family of the one who had slain their daughters.The outside world was incredulous that such forgiveness could be offered for such a heinous crime. It was not just their willingness to forgive, they were willing to do so without even taking time to grieve for their own. They gave almost immediately after having their own heart forever broken.

Fresh from the funerals where they had buried their own daughters, the grieving Amish families accounted for half of the seventy-five people who attended the Charles Roberts funeral. Roberts’ widow was deeply moved by their presence. These mourning families greeted her and her three children with a forgiveness went beyond talk and graveside presence...they also donated to a fund that had been established for the shooter’s family.

This event is one of the single most compelling stories of forgiveness I have ever heard in my life. I know that God does not just call His people to be forgiving...He requires it. In light of this tragedy, I must confess I don't know if I would have been able, especially so quickly...I pray someday to be able to live up to their example.