I heard a story a few weeks ago that I can't help but share.
A man named James Vanderbrook was a cruel man. In Africa, he kidnapped a family's soon, took him, and burned him to death. This was a father and mother's only son.
8 years later, he came back, and kidnapped the father. He and his henchmen took the mother along, to witness this torture and death of her husband. He made her watch as he burned him to death. As the fire and the smoke rose above his body, she listened to the last words of her dying husband who said, amazingly enough, “Father, forgive them.”
When James Vanderbrook was caught, he was brought to trial. During the Truth and Reconciliation hearings, the woman was asked ‘how do you believe justice should be done to this man who has inflicted such suffering on you and so brutally destroyed your family’?
The old woman replied that she wanted three things. “I want to be taken first to where my husband’s body was burned so that I my gather up the dust and give his remains a decent burial,” she said. She stopped, collected herself and then went on.
“My husband and son were my only family. I want secondly, therefore, for Mr. Vanderbrook to become my son. I would like for him to come two times a month to the ghetto where I live and spend a day with me so I can pour out to him whatever love I still have remaining in me.”
“Finally,” she said, “I would like Mr. Vanderbrook to know that I offer him my forgiveness because Christ died to forgive. This was also the wish of my husband."
"So I would like now for someone to lead me across the courtroom so I can take Mr. Vanderbrook in my arms, embrace him and let him know that he is truly forgiven. “
The assistants came to help the elderly woman across the room and, as they approached, it is reported that Mr.Vanderbrook fainted.
Those in the courtroom, all family and friends of those victims and perpetrators of unspeakable violence and oppression, began to sing ‘Amazing Grace’.
That is a true story. It was taken from the reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. The breaking point for the elderly South African woman should have been the brutal death of her husband and son. Instead, it became a turning point – a time when she turned all of her sorrow and grief, her pain and anguish into an act of radical love and forgiveness.
Isn't that so awesome? It is a story that touched my heart. It is my home church's centennial and our theme verse is Colossians 2:6-7 -- "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving"
Other translations say "overflowing with thankfulness".
That's the way our hearts should be. When they're so deeply rooted in Christ, they can't help but to pour forth His love and compassion in every circumstance and situation.
Things are still going well-- very well-- for me. In 3 weeks, I will move to my new apartment in my new town to begin my new life in a new place.
And I want people to see that my heart is overflowing with thankfulness. In my words and in my actions.
