What is it about forgiveness?

Gladys Staines is a person, whom I follow closely. I hardly knew her until a moment 12 years back, on 22nd January 1999 when I read the headlines of a newspaper with the title "I forgive the killers!". This statement came at a moment when her husband and two little children were burnt alive whilst sleeping in his station wagon in a shocking and devastating incident

The thought of forgiveness however is not new to me. What do you hear every year in a 3 hour long good friday service in Chennai? Its forgiveness in the first place. Its one of the 7 statements that Jesus made on the cross "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34. However Gladys choose to do it and not just be satisfied hearing it.

When some reporters asked her how she found it in herself to forgive the killer, she replied Jesus Christ had forgiven my crimes and He also commands us to forgive each other. It was a spontaneous thing. It wasn't something I had to work up, It just came. Courtesy OutlookIndia.

Well to be honest, the forgiveness of Gladys staines was lingering in my thoughts for a long time. Its something I wanted to do as well. But on the other hand, there were sometimes I had to ask other people's forgiveness. It was because I had hurt them or I had wrongly judged other people. Many times I (still) ask forgiveness to God in prayer.

When I came out of my coma 2 days after the accident in the ICU, seeing my legs fixed to an iron apparatus and all the tubes and the drains in my legs I thought I could never ever walk in my life and would be confined to a wheelchair. Its quite interesting to note that even at that time "I forgive" was the first thing that came into my mind on my reaction to my accident. It was indeed a spontaneous thing. I was quite happy that I was able to show that when the bus owner came to meet me and gave him a 'Bible', where forgiveness is shown to be handed over to the bus driver. Its one of the beautiful qualities that I am thankful to God for. Having said this I am also thankful to God that at this moment I can walk fast and also jog a small distance .

Exactly 12 years after the incident, Gladys says "I hold no bitterness towards killers." It is remarkable. Honestly it involves a lot of tears, in the background. Patience and forgiveness is needed everyday. Forgivess is amidst the pain, crying and wrestling inside, you give love in return. When there is no bitterness but love, it helps personally as well. It has helped me recover faster from the tragedy!