When someone close to us betrays us, the hurt we carry around can cause us so much suffering, it can even lead to serious health problems.
Recently some youths trashed a scout hall in our area causing thousands of dollars in damage. When interviewed by the press, the scout master did not call for tougher penalties for young offenders, or for their parents to pay. Instead, he said he wanted the young offenders to join his scout group. Some may say he was a little naive- but perhaps he is a strong and sensible leader.
Consider these quotes:
'Forgiveness may be the greatest virtue on earth, and certainly the most needed'
Gordon B Hinkley
'The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.'
Mahatma Gandhi
'To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.'
Lewis B. Smedes
6 comments:
Before, I thought forgiveness is just a christian duty. But now I have realized it's importance in one's well being and state of mind. Very true, I was once a prisoner... great quotes!
I forgave my estranged husband last weekend an my whole life changed. I never realized that I was such a prisoner of hatred, resentment, rage, bitterness and depression. I am looking at the whole world in a whole new light. WOW! Forgiveness is powerful stuff.
This quote is from Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian holocaust survivor.
Kacey, I looked for verification that this quote comes from Corrie Ten Boom but found none. She is quoted extensively regarding forgiveness, but I cannot find where she made this statement. Could you please provide the source document for this quote if it did come from Corrie Ten Boom? Thank you very much!!
I found that Smedes wrote this in his book. I also found He talks about Corrie Ten Boom in his book. I found this page that actually quotes them both as saying it: http://www.veteransoftruth.co/content/forgiveness-unforgiveness It doesn't give the citation of her quote, but it does tell the story. The most reliable source I found was Family Life Today. http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3781101&ct=4638749 I noticed about.com cites her also. http://christianity.about.com/od/whatdoesthebiblesay/a/bibleforgivenes.htm I also saw someone attribute it to Andy Andrews http://encouragementacres.blogspot.com/2010/04/heart-mender-by-andy-andrews.html because he writes it in The heart Mender. He is an avid researcher.... I'll post on his facebook and see if he knows definitively :)
Ahhh I just wrote a big post and I don't think it was published! Essentially, Family Life Today attributes it to her. I also saw about.com attributed it to her, as well as several pastor reference sites. I found one site that attributed it to both, citing Smedes book. Then I found someone who attributed it to Andy Andrews, because he quotes it in his book The Heart Mender. He's a great researcher, so I'll post on his Facebook and see if he knows the origin :) I'll also contact the Corrie Ten Boom society to verify! Fax: +31 (0)23 5268 481
E-Mail: info@corrietenboom.com
Thanks!!!
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