Remember this? That horrific Amish school shooting back in October, 2006? "Amish Grace" (the LMN movie) went through the events of the day, but more importantly the events that followed.
I have always thought highly of the Amish. My dad has worked with them for as long as I can remember. I have vivid memories of visiting their farms and running around with the little Amish boys and girls, petting their animals and sneaking peaks of the...GULP...outhouses! We went to furniture auctions, cookouts, and a group of Amish men even helped my dad build our house (Ryan and I's AND my parents') from the ground up! They're just great people.
Okay, okay- back to the movie. I couldn't hold back the tears as they dramatized the shots being fired- knowing well that five little girls lost their lives that day. But the waterworks really began AFTER the dramatic shooting scene. Apparently, after this madman barricaded the one room school house shut, hogtied and shot the girls, the Amish had one thing on their mind: forgiveness. In fact, immediately following the shootings the elders (including a father of one of the dead girls) got a ride over to the widow's (Mrs. Roberts- the shooter's wife) house to pay their condolences to HER. To offer HER prayer. To offer HER some comfort. To let her know they would help HER out in any way they could. I was baffled. BLOWN AWAY. It's not often that you find someone (let alone a group of people) that truly practice what they preach. Of course, me being, well, ME, this movie got me thinking about my own life. I (thank the DEAR LORD) have not suffered any kind of a tragedy like these Amish people, yet I harvest grudges and resentment about the most ridiculous things. In the grand scheme of things, its actually really sickening to think about- I can't forgive a family member for ((this or that)) but these people can forgive (and TRULY forgive) the man who murdered their daughters??? And offer compassion to his wife? Completely mind blowing.
I have a new found respect for these people. Thanks to a cheesy Lifetime movie, I really feel like this is the first time in a long time I've been able to look at forgiveness from such a humbling point of view.
With all that rambling said.... I really want to know (if you feel comfortable enough to share) if you TRULY, TRULY could forgive your child's murderer. Not just say it, but follow through. It's a horrible thing to think about, and God-willing none of us will ever face that. But, I can't honestly say I could. In fact, right now, in my walk, I can say with certainty I could not forgive that person. So, please share... this movie really got me thinking... and I'm just curious.
And...if you have time, try and find "Amish Grace" so you can see for yourself the truly amazing spirit of these people.
7 comments:
i just cant imagine.....i know what u mean about holding grudges for ridiculous things...i just dont know..i mean i would hope i could eventually but...its easy to say yes if that hasnt happened...its just so hard...i think there is a natural greiving, being mad process and eventually u ...i dunno...i will be thinking about it now ...there is MY ramblings...lol
No I don't think so
I have to say I most defiantly could not forgive someone that murdered my child!! I'm defiantly not a "good" christian, but I think if God won't let murderers in heaven then he truly doesn't forgive them either, right?? That's probably a terrible thing to say. I believe people kill in defense, anger, rage and then there are sick crazy who kill for pleasure..that person I could never forgive!! If someone accidentally hit my child with a car and it was a true accident, I could defiantly come to a place to forgive that person. I think it all has to do with the situation! Yet do you think the Amish would of showed that man the same forgiveness??
interesting- I agree w/ all of you. I just couldn't forgive. That makes me feel horrible and like I need to do some soul searching or something!
Jessy- I got into thinking of the whole "accident" thing too- like if your child were hit by a car- same thing though- I just don't think I could ever forgive. I feel awful for saying that...
I promise next blog post will make you all smile! nothing too heavy! I was just really touched by this movie!
I guess I would like to think that I could come to a place to accept it was a true accident and not hold onto hate. But who knows, hopefully none of us will ever have to find out!! I just can't imagine :(
God does let murders into heaven though....if they are sorry and ask God to forgive them, he forgives and forgets and if they died, they would go to heaven....But he only wants people who believe and follow and are faithful in God to join him in heaven, therefore if a murderer doesn't ask for forgiveness he would go to hell.
I am a growing christian and I honestly dont know if I could forgive or not. I think I could say I forgive them but deep inside I would still have this feeling of hate and anger about it. I think I would have to grow a lot closer to God than I am right now to be able to totally 100% give it to God.
I don't know if I could forgive my child's murderer. The grief would be so overwhelming, and the situation so permanent. It's not like so many other things in life where people can change and make amends. It's done, your child is gone. The only thing I can think of that would help me keep my sanity would be to think of the murderer as being broken inside. Then, even though those schoolhouse murders were quite deliberate, you see the murderer as a sort of an accident out there--like a wild animal that tragically came in contact with those children. Maybe that's dehumanizing the murderer, but it feels like it would take some of the anger away. Like Angie B said, it's easy to say this if it hasn't happened. I agree--the Amish who could go to comfort the murderer's mother are incredible people.
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