I saw a video the other day. It was about a man who lost his pregnant wife and his only daughter when the car that he was driving was hit head on by a teenage drunk driver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zwQ_7q-fU
It’s a tough one to watch but SO POWERFUL. There is so much in it….the forgiveness, the healing, the mercy, the love. But, by far, the greatest message, at least for me, was this (paraphrasing):
‘It’s not me who forgave him, oh-no, I could never do that. All I had to do was to move aside and let Christ work through me!’
We need to get out of our own way sometimes, and let God do his work through us.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matt. 19:26
Move aside, just move aside!
Reflections on the Journey 
Forgiveness can sometimes be very difficult because we just can’t forget the hurt.
Thanx Andie for this wonderful video.
God bless.
So true Victor, especially when the hurt is so deep that we have to face it every day.
Forgiveness can feel like a mysterious grace. I think if it is a person’s desire to forgive, to move on, then they will be able to through God’s grace. I think it always requires some effort, in my opinion, a duo of us and God, where we leaves our desires aside and hold onto him. Intercessory prayer can be really powerful, too…praying for someone else to forgive another person.
I’m so happy to see you blogging again. 🙂 🙂
Thanks Jade. Yes, it is a duo. Reminds me of ‘my yoke is light’ – the yoke, always for two.
Andie,
I got shivers listening to this video it was so powerful. I can’t help but wonder what kind of life the young man who hit them would have had if this man hadn’t forgiven him and told him to start anew. He was given a second chance and it was beautiful to watch. Thanks for linking to it – it was amazing.
Thanks Mary. Yes, the teenager was now free – it was a beautiful story.
Andie, thanks for this demonstration of the power of grace. A group in our church ministers to people affected by the justice system and it is amazing how powerful forgiveness can be. We believe in restorative justice and this is very difficult for the average person to accept that it is better for our society to restore not only the victim, but also the perpetrator. I shall be passing this video on to our Dismas leader.
Wow Lynda, what a beautiful ministry! I think that is why Jesus first forgave the sins of the paralyzed man and then healed him. Forgiveness is tough but it is freeing for both!