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Amish Grace, Anger, choices, Forgiveness, Grief, Grudges, Healthy Happy Loving Life, Resentment, responsible, Revealing your true nature, stress, stuck, unstuck
© 2020 Kebba Buckley Button. World Rights Reserved.
On October 2, 2006, a pickup truck backed up to the front door of an Amish school. It was the West Nickel Mines School in Pennsylvania. A man who was angry at God went into the school, shot 10 girls and then himself. Five of the girls died. This small Amish community could have been devastated and could have shouted about discrimination, invasion, and revenge. They could have been consumed by resentment and hatred. They could have written books about their pain and sold the movie rights. They could have sued their way around the court system. They did no such thing.
Instead, they revealed their true nature: forgiveness. They forgave Charles Roberts, the gunman, who had been their milk delivery man. One of Roberts’ children had died the day she was born, and he could not forgive God for that loss. Amish leaders went to Roberts’ widow’s home, told her they had forgiven Roberts, and offered comfort for her and her children. Later, they took the widow toys for her children. Citing their faith, the Amish gave up any burden of hatred or resentment, embodied compassion, acted out their forgiveness, and fulfilled reconciliation. They went to Roberts’ funeral and stood with his bereaved family. They leveled the school and built a new one on a different site, calling it “The New Hope School”.
Roberts’ widow came to the dedication celebration, only 6 months after the shootings. The community had revealed its true character, values, and nature. It had declared a healing. A movie version of the story, Amish Grace, ran on the Lifetime Network, and Lifetime reported it was the most watched movie ever broadcast by their network. Clearly, people are interested in forgiveness, unburdening of grudges, and the grace of reconciliation.
The Amish story raises afresh the question of what forgiveness is. A great definition is “giving up resentment or any claim for recompense for the wrong that has occurred.” This doesn’t mean one has to forget the wrong ever happened. In the Christian faith, Jesus taught that no limit should be set on the extent of forgiveness (Luke 17:4). Also, an unforgiving spirit is regarded as a sin (Matt 18:34-35 and Luke 15:28-30). In teaching The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4), Jesus instructed the Disciples to pray, “…and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” So one will be forgiven by God only to the extent one is forgiving to those who have wronged oneself.
Normal forgiveness commonly takes years, and research suggests it takes a toll on your mind and cardiovascular system. The field of psychology is not yet in total agreement on the exact definition of “forgiveness”. But many are promoting the practice for individual, community, and world benefits. If we can forgive personally and locally, can we forgive globally as well?
What do the worst times reveal about your nature? Are you holding any grudges? Would you like to feel better? Think of Amish Grace. Try forgiving someone today, and notice how well you sleep tonight. Now you’re in the realm of Healthy, Happy, and Loving Lifesm!
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Kebba Buckley Button is a stress solutions expert and award-winning author who celebrates life. She also has a longtime natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. Among her books are: Discover The Secret Energized You (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), Inspirations for Peace Within: Quotes and Images to Uplift and Inspire, and Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine. The books are available on Amazon and through Kebba’s office. To email us, kebba@kebba.com .
Books by Kebba Buckley Button
Healthy Happy Loving Life! 