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Saved By Grace, But Do We Demonstrate That Grace In Our Lives?
Saved By Grace, But Do We Demonstrate That Grace In Our Lives?
This is a true story. I chose to leave the names out: In 2005 a women was on her way home from her niece’s recital at about 12:30 AM. Little did she know that in a short moment her path would cross with five young men and her life altered. Earlier that evening these five men broke into a car and stole some credit cards. They proceeded to buy several hundred dollars worth of DVDs and video games. They also purchased a 20 pound turkey. This turkey was later tossed from their car that night as they crossed paths with the young lady’s car. The turkey went through the windshield, bent the steering wheel and crushed almost every bone in her face. Miraculously she survived, but required 10 hours of surgery to reconstruct her face. The area in which this occurred was outraged.
Months later at the trial the defendant plead guilty. What did he get as a sentence? He received 6 months in jail and 5 years probation. How could such a light sentence be given out for such a hideous crime against a complete stranger? He could have received up to 26 years in prison. Why didn’t he? The victim asked the court to show lenience on the young man. After the sentence was pronounced the victim approached the young man. She gave him a hug and told him that she forgave him. He was remorseful and thankful as they embraced. There were not many dry eyes in the court room that day. What a powerful act of grace from the victim towards her attacker.
I share this, because it convicted me as I read it today. How often I get angry in traffic or over trivial stuff. Could I have demonstrated that kind of grace if that had happened to me?
What keeps me and so many others from being able to display such grace? Is this story an anomaly or is it a standard to aspire to? Have you ever witnessed such grace first hand or displayed it yourself?
This is a true story. I chose to leave the names out: In 2005 a women was on her way home from her niece’s recital at about 12:30 AM. Little did she know that in a short moment her path would cross with five young men and her life altered. Earlier that evening these five men broke into a car and stole some credit cards. They proceeded to buy several hundred dollars worth of DVDs and video games. They also purchased a 20 pound turkey. This turkey was later tossed from their car that night as they crossed paths with the young lady’s car. The turkey went through the windshield, bent the steering wheel and crushed almost every bone in her face. Miraculously she survived, but required 10 hours of surgery to reconstruct her face. The area in which this occurred was outraged.
Months later at the trial the defendant plead guilty. What did he get as a sentence? He received 6 months in jail and 5 years probation. How could such a light sentence be given out for such a hideous crime against a complete stranger? He could have received up to 26 years in prison. Why didn’t he? The victim asked the court to show lenience on the young man. After the sentence was pronounced the victim approached the young man. She gave him a hug and told him that she forgave him. He was remorseful and thankful as they embraced. There were not many dry eyes in the court room that day. What a powerful act of grace from the victim towards her attacker.
I share this, because it convicted me as I read it today. How often I get angry in traffic or over trivial stuff. Could I have demonstrated that kind of grace if that had happened to me?
What keeps me and so many others from being able to display such grace? Is this story an anomaly or is it a standard to aspire to? Have you ever witnessed such grace first hand or displayed it yourself?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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:)
This is a smile and a flower for all the people who have ever extended Grace to me.... Especially my Lord Jesus Christ.. :)
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Oh my goodness... HAHAHAHA.. my tummy hurts and tears from laughing... sadly....
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Permalink Reply by terrie mcnair on
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OHHH!!! so funny! Goood laugh!! thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Imperator on
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My dear sister Carla,
That's what I was trying to say isn't it?
I was trying to say that for one to forgive it is not easy unless you are a different person, meaning a person in Christ. I was trying to say that an ordinary person living in the world finds it very difficult to forgive because heir heart is not conditioned to forgive when it is very easy to do. I was trying to say that one's heart needs to go through a big change for them to forgive a person when in fact the act of forgiving is quiet simple to do. You forgive when you don't hold any bad feelings or any negativity in your heart.
When you have been victimised like the person in LT's story the natural human instinct is to seek revenge or to get pay back isn't it? Because the victim was a gracious person she was able to forgive the wrongdoers.
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Dear Imperator,
I'm sorry that I misunderstood your comment.
I agree with you... Amen. :)
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