Spiritual Journey Thursday - Forgiveness

Every Thursday, I explore different aspects of my spiritual journey, and I ask anyone else who would also like to write about their spiritual journeys to link up below.  I've learned so much from the posts of those who share their thoughts.



     Last week, I saw an extraordinary and tragic story on "Good Morning America."  It was about the family of an Arizona shooting-range instructor who was accidentally shot and killed by a 9-year-old girl.  The children of the man were speaking out to the 9-year-old, telling her they were thinking about and praying for her, hoping she was okay.  They wanted her to know they forgave her.  Unfortunately, the video wouldn't embed, but you can read the story and watch the video here.

     I don't share this story to open up a conversation about gun safety, rights, or control.  I share it because I thought the children's reaction was so moving.  We've all heard stories of family members of other victims, not necessarily accidental ones, forgive their assailants, also.  And we know that Jesus forgave his crucifiers by saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." These are the ultimate examples of forgiveness.  We are called to forgive on a much smaller scale most of the time; and it is even difficult for us to do that.  In Matthew 6 we are instructed to "Forgive people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."  He forgives us so wholly: "He has removed our lawless acts from us as far as the east is from the west." - Psalm 103:12.  We must do the same for others.