The art of forgiveness

[tagyourit33]

A young 22 yr old pioneer brother was out in service.

He went to a door and the householder showed irritation at his presence.

The man told him to wait and he came back armed and shot the brother.

The brother died there.

During his trial, the man said that he hated Jehovah's Witnesses and had warned

that he would kill the first person to knock on his door.

The man was found guilty and was sentenced to prison..

Years later he was released and went back to live in the same house.

The brothers in the congregation were warned and avoided preaching at that house.

But there was a brother that desired to visit that house again.

He was advised against it,

But he insisted and was given permission to visit the house.

The brother figured that time spent in prison had changed the man.

So he went to the murderers home.

The man was very surprised to see him and asked him if he knew that he had

killed a witness before.

The brother said he did know and this surprised the man.

He was curious to know the kind of man capable of

knocking on his door so he invited the brother in and a Bible study was

started.

The months passed and the truth became clear to the man..

He came to know a God capable of forgiving even the

most serious sins. His spiritual progress was evident, but at the

invitation of attending the Kingdom Hall, the man declined.

He said he couldn't go to the Hall if the parents of the young brother he had killed,

Were not able to forgive him also.

The brother told him, 'It's not necessary.

Jehovah has forgiven you.

He doesn't keep account of what you did before you knew the truth.'

Even so, the man was reluctant to accept the invitation to the Hall..

He insisted in needing the forgiveness from the father of the young brother he had killed.

Otherwise he would not go to the Hall.

The brother asked him, 'Do you really need that?

Do You really need the father of the young man to forgive you?' The

brother asked.

When the man told him he did, the brother said to him,

"Consider yourself forgiven because I am the father

of that young man you killed"

Today, both are serving in the same congregation,

And yearn for the day when Jehovah will bring back to life

that young man in the resurrection.

The discourse concluded shortly after this, showing the value of genuine forgiveness.

[aPeacefulButterfly]

I have read this one before. What a wonderful lesson in forgiveness. I don't know if I could be so strong...I can only hope.

[tom_makagiansar]

thanks for the heartthouching story. i want to ask, is that story really happen ? is it from our publication, if yes, where ?

[Brother_Bliss]

thanks for the heartthouching story. i want to ask, is that story really happen ? is it from our publication, if yes, where ?

I really doubt that it is a true and actual experience. It is likely just a story, nothing more.

Even at that, though, it does present an interesting rhetorical question that LaRhonda touched on, which is, could you be just as forgiving of someone who murdered a loved one of yours and then later came into the truth?

As unbelievable as this might sound, I think, after having had YEARS to heal and grieve, that I could. True Christian love does not keep an account of the injury - 1 Corinthians 8:7-8

[Fiona]

I hear the same story almost word for word from my father. It was read out during a talk in his congregation. He "THINKS" it was a real experience from one of the south american countries. But cannot remember exactly where the brother said.

Ive never seen it in print though.

[Shannon4Jah]

Wow, "I am the father of the young man that you killed."

That sent me chills.

[whitetiger1986]

Wow thats a sad story Im still trying to get used to this site Im new here wow that was a heartwarming story thats one of the lessions I need to learn myself is to forgive sometimes i have a hard time with that.