“Senseless
tragedy”. Those words have been
reverberating in my mind this last week and a half since the theater shooting
in Aurora, Colorado. Tragedy strikes and
it reminds me of the uncertainty of life and the reality of evil. As a mom I can’t help but grieve for those families
whose kids didn’t make it home that night.
The what-ifs begin. My emotions
are mixed, outrage and anger toward the gunman, prayers and sorrow for the
victims.
It was a
horrific event, yet the stories that emerge are stories of hope, compassion, courage
and generosity. I’ve even read of an
unquestionable miracle. In the midst of
adversity true character is revealed.
The perpetrator we say doesn’t deserve forgiveness; justice demands
retribution. And yet, from hospital beds,
some of the survivors have admittedly forgiven the shooter. How can that be? It goes beyond reason.
As I said in
my last post, forgiveness is a choice and often the first step to healing. We forgive because our heavenly Father has
forgiveness us. We understand the price
He paid to set us free. We forgive
because God asks us to forgive. Obedience
flows from a grateful heart. We forgive
because we know the pain that we ourselves have caused others. How many times do we forgive? Seventy times seven is Jesus’ response.
I understand
that many will say it is easy for me to speak of forgiveness when I have not
been the victim of such an atrocity. I
agree. I do not stand in judgment of
those who have suffered great loss and cannot forgive. My heart cannot fathom their pain. Instead, I hope to encourage those like
myself who often stand on the other side of judgment, who need
forgiveness. Jesus prayed from the
cross, “Father forgive them because they know not what they’ve done.” Sure there are times when I’ve hurt others
without even knowing it, but most of the time my screw ups are clearly
evident. I struggle daily to do the
right thing, but instead find myself repeating patterns I long to conquer. I may seek forgiveness from others, but I am
not quick to forgive myself.
What do I do
at these times? I fall on my knees and
cry out my heart to God. He is a
compassionate Father. He gives comfort
when no one else can. When I confess my
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and cleanse me from all
unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). He encourages me to press on when I feel like a
failure, to try again when I want to give up. He gives me the hope to believe
that in His strength, I can make it through another day. He offers the same for all who come to him
with a broken spirit and contrite heart.
There are
times when forgiveness is difficult and maybe even harder when you are the one
seeking it. But for those who have been
forgiven much, it is the only way, because it is Jesus’ way.
