Forgiveness


If you get a chance today - look up the name Mary Johnson-Roy.

Mary is a woman who - in a mind-blowing act of grace, forgave her son's killer.  She’s not the only person who has done something like this…

In February of 1993, Mary's 20-year-old son was shot dead by 16-year-old boy named Oshea Israel after a dispute at a party.

Following the shooting, Mary says she was "angry and hated this boy.  Hated his mother."  She said she "wanted him to be caged up like the animal he was."

To help her get past the loss, Mary started a support group for other mothers whose children had been killed.  But as time passed, she felt an urge to meet Israel face-to-face, and to practice the forgiveness her faith in Jesus taught her.

May went to the prison where Oshea Israel was being held, and asked to meet with him.  

At first, Oshea was caught off-guard and refused to meet with his victim's mother.  However, after nine-months of persistent requests, he agreed.  

The first thing Mary said was, "Look, you don't know me, and I don't know you.  Let's just start with right now."

Once the ice had been broken, their meetings continued on a regular basis; and after Israel had served his 18 year sentence and been released, Mary took it upon herself to help Oshea reintegrate into society.  In fact, she even introduced him to her landlord and provided the recommendation needed for him to move into the apartment next to hers.

Now, a humble Israel insists he wants to prove himself to Mary, and to contribute to society.  He visits prisons and churches, often with Johnson by his side, where they tell their story and talk about forgiveness and reconciliation.

If you ask Mary why she did it - why she reached out to Oshea in the first place, she'll tell you, "it's not about the other person. Forgiving him does not diminish what he's done.  Yes - he murdered my son, but the forgiveness is for me..."

I think about God, and the fact that MY SINS helped put Jesus on that cross.  And I wonder HOW, when that is the case, I can ever withhold forgiveness from someone else...

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?  Up to seven times?

Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." - Matthew 18:21-22


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