Day 04. Something You Have to Forgive Someone For

I really cannot say much. This person has done a lot of damage to me and my family, but writing about it could make it worse. Because it’s in the person’s character to seek damages, get revenge, whatever.

But, I do try to forgive. I’ve been trying to forgive for years. It’s not easy. If someone wrongs me, I can forgive them and move on. But when someone hurts those I love (my family), forgiveness is much more difficult.

It would be easier if the person would own their actions (apologize, ask forgiveness, make amends). That will probably never happen.

I think about God’s sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ. God forgives us sinners for whom his son had to die. There’s nothing I shouldn’t be able to forgive. I am trying.

But if ye forgive not men for their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:15

I am trying.

Review: The Devil in Pew Number Seven

The Devil in Pew Number Seven, by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo, is a memoir about growing up as the young daughter of a small town minister. In the tiny little congregation, a man (who always occupied pew number seven) decided that he hated her father and wanted him out. Not just out of the church, but out of town. And he would stop at nothing to see it happen: "Dead or alive, crawling or walking." The family lived for years under constant attacks, threats, and fear from this man, their neighbor.

 

Rebecca’s father modeled forgiveness and praying for his enemies throughout the entire ordeal which included bombings of their home and surrounding property, threatening phone calls, and eventually a shooting which took the life of Rebecca’s mother. In the wake of her mother’s death, the widowed preacher spiraled downhill and soon died, leaving Rebecca and her younger brother as orphans.

The author’s descriptions of the fear she experienced and lived with as a very young girl built throughout the story, but the ending was the most unexpected event of all: forgiveness. She offered forgiveness to the man who had terrorized her family and caused the deaths of her parents. After he was released from prison, she allowed him into her life (she was, by then, an adult) and the two made amends. The “Devil” even arranged, while incarcerated, to pay for her and her younger brother’s college education.

I highly recommend this book to any who have experienced injustice. Because you simply cannot read this book and feel all the empathy and sympathy for this family and not be completely affected by the reconciliation that occurs. I was blown away by this woman’s story and by her depth of faith, love, and compassion.

Paula Hrbacek: A Someday Thing

Dear Readers,

Since I took on the challenge of daily blogging for this month, I have invited a variety of folks to write guest blogs on their experiences with faith. Today, I am publishing the first of the guest blogs. Tomorrow, I will post a blog authored by me.

* * * *

When our children were young, we joined a local pool each summer.  It was owned by people in the neighborhood, and was rather small, but we enjoyed the swimming lessons and parties they hosted.  It cost $300 for three months of pleasure.

            Then the pool went bankrupt in July and closed one month early.  We didn’t get everything we had paid for, and felt ripped off.

            My husband said we should sue, and while I felt the same emotion, I knew that just wasn’t going to work.  The owners were just normal people like us.  We couldn’t take food off their table.

            So, instead, I dumped my feelings on God in prayer.  I told him I just needed someone to vent on, and if he would just let me have my say, I would leave it up to Him about what to do.  Then, I told him how I felt.  They owed me a hundred dollars.

            A few weeks later, my husband woke up one Saturday morning, and said something you will never hear him say again.  “Let’s go garage saleing.”  We headed out, and spent the morning looking around.  Finally, we made it to a sale that had an attic fan, still in the box, brand new.

            I had a secret desire for an attic fan.  There were days when it would be really nice.  I had priced them at the hardware store, and they ran about $150.  That was a bit much for the budget, so I didn’t ask for one.  It was a “someday thing.” 

The man who owned our house before us had made the hole, with the intent of putting in a fan “someday”. These people had bought a fan, but never got around to making a hole.  I saw the fan, and knew that “someday” had finally arrived.

We got the fan for $20.  As we were walking away, I asked my husband if he recognized the people who sold it to us.  They were stock holders in the pool.  They were the people that owed us $100.  God had found a way to even the score, and make things fair.

Some people think “vengeance is mine!” is an angry statement.  I believe that it is a statement of ownership; that if we let God even the score, he will do a better job of it than we can.

About the Author:

Paula Hrbacek is a graduate of the University of Missouri with degrees in Journalism and Art, and from Pensacola Junior College with certification in elementary education. She's the author of five books, including “Stars Shine After Dark”,  a sweet love story with mild love scenes and an underlying Christian message that all things are possible with faith, hope, and courage. ISBN 0-595-17387-X, available from Amazon and B&N as a paperback, Kindle and Nook, and “Day Camp In Hawaii”, a complete day camp program with original songs, skits, games, sports, crafts, art, geology, dance and other activities for grades 1-6. The program can be adapted for any type of summer camp, day camp, vacation Bible school, or summer school program. ISBN 9781475214406, available in paperback, Nook and Kindle. 

Paula also writes two columns for The Examiner, a free online newspaper.  Her children’s arts and crafts column offers art lesson plans and activities for youth groups and after school care programs.  Her book review column features a variety of wholesome and inspirational fiction and nonfiction works.