(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will listen to a story describing the healing power of forgiveness.
For more information on this story, go to http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-of-amish-school-shooter-shares-amazing-story-of-forgiveness/.
Share this story: On one horrific day in October 2006, Terri Roberts’ life changed instantly. Her thirty-two-year-old son, Charlie, shot ten young girls in an Amish schoolroom near their home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, before taking his own life. Not surprisingly, Terri’s first thought was that she would have to move away from the area. Imagine her response when some of the family members of the slain and injured Amish girls came to her house to ask her to stay in the community and to assure her of their forgiveness for her son’s terrible deed.
The forgiveness offered by the Amish families has brought amazing healing to many of Charlie’s victims. His mother felt God’s healing power as she mourned over her son’s actions when the parents who lost two daughters attended her son’s funeral. And now, every Thursday, she provides care for the girl who was the most seriously injured in the shooting. She says that the hope and future she has now is made possible only by the power of forgiveness.
Ask: If you faced a similar situation, would you be able to offer forgiveness to the family members of someone who ended your child’s life? Would you welcome them into your home and allow them to care for your permanently-injured child? How would such acts of forgiveness bring healing to all survivors?
Explain that learners will study Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness in today’s lesson to discover how these Amish families were able to offer forgiveness instead of condemnation to the family members of the man who shot their children.