I heard a pretty amazing story at church today. Tom was talking about a revival that he preached at years ago in Illonis. Each night before he preached he would hold a prayer service, not many people would come but one lady was there every night praying with him. He thought she was sweet so he asked the preacher at the host church about the lady. Tom wanted to know her story.
The lady's name was Florence, I believe. She was married to a man, we'll call him Michael, for years. Michael was a construction worker and one time he was working on an apartment. The man, Jack, who lived above the apartment that Michael was working on was strung out on drugs and was annoyed by the noise that Michael was making while he was working so he went down and beat Michael to death with a hammer.
Jack ended up going to prison. A few weeks after he was in prison, Florence went to the prison, gave him her dead husband's bible and said "I forgive you." That made me cry. How could a lady go forgive a man who killed her husband. I can't forgive people for the smallest things, I don't think I would have nearly as much strength as she did.
Jack ended up becoming a Christian, and even a minister once he was out of prison. Jack and Florence were then friends.
I really wish I had the strength to forgive others. Who am I not to forgive? I am soooo far from perfect. God forgives me whenever I sin and other people forgive me to the bad things I do to them. Forgiveness is something I really need to work on.
