The other night for our family movie, we watched Amish Grace. I can’t remember the last time I cried so hard.

It was a great retelling of the tragedy that struck the Amish community a few years back. It was a great conversation starter about forgiveness with the kids…and it also for my husband and I as we reflected on how we might have handled such an event.

Our human emotions tell us to be angry and hate, but God wants us to enjoy this life he has gifted us with and to have peace. We cannot if we harbor ill feelings which ultimately shuts God out. As hard as it must be to forgive in a tragedy such as this, it is only by the grace of God that we are able to forgive.

We explained to the kids that those without Christ in their hearts and lives walk around with anger, hurt and resentment because they have nowhere to take it. We on the other hand can take it to the foot of the cross, and leave it there!! Amen!

The Amish reaching out to the family of the man who committed this crime against them was powerful. It got the world thinking and it also confirmed the need to voice your forgiveness to the one who wronged you.

Here are some verses on Forgiveness:

(Romans 12:14) Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.

(Ephesians 4:32) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

(Colossians 3:13) bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

(I Peter 3:9) not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

(Matthew 6:14-15) “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Blessings,