Our
understanding of God's heart left us only one choice, the decision
to forgive. It was the choice of Jesus as He hung on a cross dying.
He said in Matthew 5:43-44: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love
your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Forgiveness is not just for the offender.
It is also for the one who is offended. If we do not forgive, we end
up in perpetual anger and bitterness and eventually offend others
with our words or actions. If we forgive, we experience a "letting
go" or cleansing process that frees us from the offender.
There is a great
misunderstanding about forgiveness. Forgiveness is not pardon.
Forgiveness is an attitude, while pardon is an action. Had they
lived, we would not have pardoned these boys for what they did. In
fact, I (Darrell) would have killed them to prevent the slaughter
that occurred if I had been given the chance. I believe most people
would have done the same. If they had lived, we would have testified
against them and demanded that justice be done. However, our hearts
toward them could not have harbored un-forgiveness. Un-forgiveness
blocks God's ability to flow through us to help others."
- Quote from the book Rachel's Tears by Darrell Scott and Beth
Nimmo.
One thing I always admired about Rachel's parents is
their ability to forgive. I love what Darrell says about
forgiveness in the above quote from the book Rachel's Tears.
And it's so true. When someone offends us, and does a wrong to
us, we often choose two courses of action. One to harbor
bitterness and hate toward the person who offended you, or two
forgive them. I choose to forgive Dylan and Eric for what they
did.
You may ask me how can I do something like that
after all the havoc and pain they caused so many people because of
their actions. Well, I think of one man, who was beaten beyond
recognition, who was whipped, who had to under go the most violent
and cruelest way of being put to death by crucifixion. Yet
despite the fact that soldiers mocked him, put a crown of thorns on
His head, and spit in his face, He looked at them as He hung in
agony on the cross, and said to them "Father forgive them."
Now if Jesus could forgive these people who crucified Him, AND
forgives me of my own sins and transgressions against God, then I
can forgive Dylan and Eric for their actions.
So this is what this section is about, to simply say
that I, Mike Santos, forgive them and pray that the other visitors of the site can
also forgive them as well. I also encourage the visitor not
only to forgive these boys, but that your heart would be touched by
the example of Rachel's parents, and Jesus him self when it comes to
forgiveness. Let forgiveness reign in our hearts. If
more people learned how to forgive others this world would be such a
better place! Thanks and God bless!!
