A Tragedy Like No Other

The tragedy in Newtown, CT yesterday was the most disturbing act of violence at a school. The children at Sandy Hook Elementary School had their lives stolen from them without warning; leaving their friends, families, and classmates forever changed.
The shooter took the lives of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook, as well as the life of his mother and himself. We will never know why this young man decided to play god with these people's lives. It has been reported that he had a history of mental illness. 
I cannot imagine how the families of these children feel today. A part of them has been taken away senselessly and tragically. My prayer for them is that they seek God for comfort  and guidance; and that each and every person affected by this horrific event will diligently attend grief counseling. They will never forget what happened, but through counseling and learning to forgive others as God forgives us, they will be able to continue with their lives. To let this stop them from living the life they were meant to have, is to let the shooter win. We fight such tragedies and adversities by moving forward.
Louis Smedes defined forgiveness well. "Forgiveness does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future."
Nelson Mandela, when asked why he was not resentful for his imprisonment said, "Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die." God knew that we would have difficulty forgiving other people. That's why he gave us the perfect example by sending Jesus to die for each of us, giving us eternal forgiveness if we choose it. 
There are not only spiritual effects that come with forgiveness, but physical effects also. Research shows that when we forgive those who have wronged us, it reduces stress, blood pressure,  heart rate, chronic pain and lowers the risk of substance abuse. Forgiveness also results in fewer depression and anxiety symptoms, healthier relationships, and improved psychological well-being. 
God wants us to forgive, but that doesn't equate to forget. I pray the people of Newtown, CT will find comfort in God's love for us during this tragic time and that with time, they will learn to forgive so they can have the peace that forgiveness brings.

Matthew 6:14-15

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁴ “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.