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Only courageous can forgive

Last Updated 16 September 2013, 18:55 IST

Forgiving others  requires great courage.  It also requires great faith.  Only the brave can forgive.

Many years ago, in the USA, Tommy Pigage, in a state of drunkeness drove to death a man by name Ted Morris who was the only son of his mother Elizabeth Morris. She was stunned and deeply angry.

At the court Tommy pleaded guilty and was convicted.  Before going to prison, he was ordered to give a talk to high school students on the request of MADD (Mothers Against Drunken Drivers).

Elizabeth Morris went to hear him speak. He said with deep remorse: “I murdered Ted and should be behind bars forever”. 

Elizabeth said to herself “If my son Ted was alive he would surely forgive him”. Elizabeth and Tommy became great friends later.

Peter came up and said to Jesus, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him: “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.”
Out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the
debt.

But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’
So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him,

‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
In anger, his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
Forgiveness  brings peace, unforgiveness does not.

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(Published 16 September 2013, 18:55 IST)

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