REMINDERS
No Sunday Night Services
Anniversaries
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January 16 Dean/Melissa Ginn
January 20 Ritchie/Carol Cunningham
Prayer Requests
New Requests: Carrie Edington Family, Chris Lewis Family
Continuing Requests: Jerry Love, Jason Cox, Ellen Moore, Teresa Gibson, Chase
Dietrich, Weddington baby
Cancer Patients: Lanny Cooper, Earl Cooper, William Jordan, Angie Bussell, Tara
McCann, Kathy Sower, Ruth Hurst, Edith Westfall, Billy Barbour, Lottie Cook,
Odist Riley, Karen Flannigan
Elderly and Shut Ins and their Families: Maxine Soards, Helen Dixon, Ina Hurst,
Sammy Ginn, Gardena Ginn, Flora Wells, Charles Riley, Donald Lykins, Sr., Lance
O’Cull, Joe Hardy, Carol Wills, Marie Drexell, Louella Ruark
Our Web Prayer Requests, Our Troops, Unspoken Needs, Missionaries, the
“Lost”, the Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually Troubled
Forgiveness
A letter written to a man on death row by the Father of the man whom the man on death row had killed:
You are probably surprised that I, of all people, am writing a letter to you, but I ask you to read it in its entirety and consider its request seriously. As the Father of the man whom you took part in murdering, I have something very important to say to you.
I forgive you. With all my heart, I forgive you. I realize it may be hard for you to believe, but I really do. At your trial, when you confessed to your part in the events that cost my Son his life and asked for my forgiveness, I immediately granted you that forgiving love from my heart. I can only hope you believe me and will accept my forgiveness.
But this is not all I have to say to you. I want to make you an offer — I want you to become my adopted child. You see, my Son who died was my only child, and I now want to share my life with you and leave my riches to you. This may not make sense to you or anyone else, but I believe you are worth the offer. I have arranged matters so that if you will receive my offer of forgiveness, not only will you be pardoned for your crime, but you also will be set free from your imprisonment, and your sentence of death will be dismissed. At that point, you will become my adopted child and heir to all my riches.
I realize this is a risky offer for me to make to you — you might be tempted to reject my offer completely — but I make it to you without reservation.
Also, I realize it may seem foolish to make such an offer to one who cost my Son his life, but I now have a great love and an unchangeable forgiveness in my heart for you.
Finally, you may be concerned that once you accept my offer you may do something to cause you to be denied your rights as an heir to my wealth. Nothing could be further from the truth. If I can forgive you for your part in my Son’s death, I can forgive you for anything. I know you never will be perfect, but you do not have to be perfect to receive my offer. Besides, I believe that once you have accepted my offer and begin to experience the riches that will come to you from me, that your primary (though not always) response will be gratitude and loyalty.
Some would call me foolish for my offer to you, but I wish for you to call me your Father.
Asking Forgiveness
My Grandma whom we all called Nanny was a solid, first-generation, Italian immigrant. She came to this country with her family on a tiny ship during World War I when she was only 8 years old. During the trip she survived stormy seas, little food, and an attack by a German U-boat. After getting here her large family worked hard to build a new life in America. They never had much money but were rich in love. Nanny grew up, married, and raised 4 sons of her own. And then when my parents moved back into her home she helped to raise me too.
One day when I was about 5 or 6 years old my parents and brothers went on a trip. It was just me and Nanny in the house for the weekend. Nanny seemed so happy to be taking care of me all by herself. She made me a special breakfast that first morning. I was too young, selfish, and foolish to see that then, however. All I could do was complain about how the food was not how Mom always made it. Nanny quietly put down the plate and went into the living room. I followed a minute later and saw that she had tears in her eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen my strong, rugged, and proud Grandmother cry and I was the one who had caused it.
I walked over to Nanny, climbed on her lap, and for the first time in my short life I did something else too: I apologized without being told too and asked Nanny to forgive me. She smiled, rubbed my head, and told me I was a good boy even though I didn’t feel like one then.
That memory just like my Nanny’s love will stay in my heart forever. It is strange that so many people think it shows weakness to admit your mistakes and say you are sorry. In truth, it is a sign of both strength and wisdom. Asking forgiveness helps us to learn, to grow, and to love. It brings us closer to Heaven and blesses us with God’s love. It helps us to become the people we were meant to be. It is those who never say they’re sorry who end up living sorry lives.
© 2012, Aills Christian Church. All rights reserved.
