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Forgiveness Illustrated  (an excerpt from Dr. Newberger' book, "Hope in the Face of Conflict").

A man told about an event that occurred when he was a teenager. When no one was there, thieves broke into his family’s home and went on a stealing spree. Only as the days wore on did the family begin to realize not just how many things were stolen but how many things that had sentimental value were gone. One such item was a special ring that belonged to the father. The ring had been given to him by his father the very day his father passed away. The man recalled, “I had never seen my dad cry, but he cried that day, and his tears were replaced by a deep anger. He vowed to kill the burglars, if he ever found them. Hearing my father, a peaceful man, speak those words scared my family.”

About a week later, during suppertime, the doorbell rang. At the door was a woman with a shopping bag and her teenage son. After being invited inside, the mother began to explain why they were there. Days earlier she noticed her son wearing a new ring. She asked him where he got it. Finally, after some prodding, the teen said that he and some buddies had broken into a house and stole it, along with other items. The mother was aghast by what her son had done. The boy himself was having second thoughts and feeling remorseful. She told him to gather all the things he had stolen in a bag and return them to the owner. She would go with him.

As the details began to pour out, the narrator recalled, “With fear and uncertainty we watched my dad. We could see the angry glare in his eyes.” After the story of what had happened was fully told, the teen said directly to the father, “Sir, I am sorry.” The boy then started to cry. He admitted what he did was wrong and was willing to give the names and addresses of his accomplices to the police department.

At that very moment when he had confessed all, the young thief surrendered his immediate fate into the hands of the very one he robbed. And it was at that moment that the father’s demeanor dramatically changed. The accusatory glare in his eyes disappeared. The hard attitude he had been expressing due to the pain of his loss was replaced by a spirit of gentleness. Even though the sense of violation to the sanctity of the home was not restored, and even though there were many more items still out there likely lost forever, given the apology and the supporting evidence to demonstrate its sincerity, the father declared to the wayward teen, “I forgive you.” Then, after giving him a fatherlike talk, the teen and his mother were asked to stay for dinner, which they did.

[Note:  The teenager courageously kept his word and told the police about the incident and those involved. Things became so dangerous for him and his family that the family was forced to move away (which, in retrospect, may have been the best outcome for the teen.)]

The Beauty of Forgiveness

This story is just one of countless stories of forgiveness that occur every day on the planet. Without it, our world, which is populated by sinners, would be an intolerable place to live. “Without being forgiven, released from the consequences of what we have done, our capacity to act would, as it were, be confined to one single deed from which we could never recover; we would remain the victims of its consequences forever.” Forgiveness allows us to become free from the past and create a more loving future. The beauty of forgiveness is that it “is the only reaction which does not merely re-act but acts anew.” “Forgiveness re-creates.” It transforms our world “in a way that can only be described as miraculous.” Why? Because the apology by the guilty party reiterates the wrong that was committed, while the expression of love and forgiveness by the one who was hurt supersedes it!"