True Forgiveness

On 29 July 2005 Anthony Walker was tragically murdered. The following day his sister and mother said that they forgave the people who killed him. Why did they do this? They did because they are Christians and they knew that this is what Jesus commanded them to do. Despite all the horror of what this family have been through they have been radiant lights reflecting the mercy and forgiveness of God.

It's difficult for any of us to really understand what they have experienced. We all easily say the words of the Lord's prayer, "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us." Yet so often we hold grudges against people for years for very petty things they may or may not in fact have done against us. Sadly us Christians are often as bad if not worse at this than people who have no faith.

Forgiveness can be difficult to show to someone if we feel we have been wronged. For the Walker family it must have been difficult as they battled with all the grief and emotional turmoil of this tragic event.

Even today when the murderers were sentenced Mrs Walker was asked by the press if she forgave them. Her reply was "Do I forgive them? At the point of death Jesus said, ‘I forgive them because they do not know what they do’. I have got to forgive them. I still forgive them."

What a tremendous Christian witness in the midst of a tragic situation. We need to remember this family in our prayers.