Tuesday evening Monieca and I were watching a documentary on the Amish and the 2006 tragedy in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania where a gunman entered a one room Amish school and shot ten beautiful girls, killing five of them. It was not easy to watch and I have to admit I got a little choked up.

While I was moved by the terrible tragedy, I was also keenly aware that these Amish families are part of my family…brothers and sisters in Christ. Many in the world may not understand it, but being members of God’s family because of our shared faith in Christ creates a spiritual connection that is real and profound.

As I listened to their stories of forgiveness in midst of such great pain, it did not seem strange. After all forgiveness is not an Amish teaching, it is Jesus’ teaching to all believers. I’m not saying I could forgive as easily as many of them did…and I hope I never need to give such forgiveness.

Yet none of us get through life without needing to forgive people who’ve hurt us, let us down, or wronged us in some way. It’s what Jesus commanded us to do…we know that…but it’s not always easy. In fact some of us never learn how to forgive, remaining slaves to our pain and bitterness.

One Amish mother who lost a daughter described her journey to forgiveness this way:

“Obviously sometimes we would like to say ‘God, You made a mistake.’ But we’re taught that God doesn’t make mistakes. It’s a form of humbleness, and realizing that God is supreme…He’s much bigger than us. I sometimes think of it as my soul is kneeling before God. I might be working, I might be washing dishes, but my soul is kneeling before God and saying, ‘Thy will be done.’ I cry! It hurts!”

Those words…“my soul is kneeling before God”…painted a picture in my heart.

If you understand those words, then you know how to forgive. It may not be easy, but you know how to do it.

So if you are struggling with forgiving someone, maybe a quick glance in the mirror to see if you soul is kneeling before God would be a good way to start you on your journey to forgiveness and healing.

Pastor Steve Hogg