I’ve been traveling for the past few weeks, and just got back yesterday. In a quirk of the International Dateline, our plane landed before it took off, making July 2, 2017 possibly the longest day I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Now that the post-trip laundry is mostly finished I’m posting, belatedly, for the We Are the World Blogfest (#WATWB).It is supposed to take place on the last Friday of every month. This event seeks to promote positive news, stories that show compassion and the resilience of the human spirit. This month’s wonderful co-hosts are: Lynn Hallbrooks, Michelle Wallace, Sylvia Stein, Sylvia McGrath, and Belinda Witzenhausen.
The story I chose for this month is the following: Mom of Sandy Hook victim says she forgives shooter, wants others to choose love by Allison Slater Tate in Today‘s parenting section.
Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse died in the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012, started the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement in 2016 in his honor. It is a program for schools that aims to change the classroom climate and make it a more caring and nurturing one, giving kids the tools and emotional resilience to “be grateful when life isn’t easy, to forgive when the person who hurt you is not sorry, and to step outside your own pain to help someone else.”
I would find forgiveness difficult if not impossible in Ms. Lewis’ situation. I wish such programs had been more available when I was in school.
A Thousand Finds 
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story!
The power of forgiveness is amazing. It benefits both parties and gives a sense of freedom…like a burden has been lifted…
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Would that we all went to schools that better promoted forgiveness. Your post is helping the cause though, Karen. Thanks for sharing. Simon’s Still Stanza #WATWB
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Hi KL – forgiveness and expressing it … shows the rest of us – that should this happen to us ever, we can deal with it … choosing love over anger and hate is essential … what a wonderful video – thanks for sharing with us – cheers Hilary
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I don’t know how kids deal with those emotions. Obviously they’re on a different playing field than adults. I’ve realized on thing in my old age, however. Forgiving is NOT for the benefit of the one who has done the deed, but for the one who has kept all the emotions in and poisoned their souls. Too long, I feel, we’ve been told it it our duty. I believe it is an act of self-preservation. I doubt that’s a popular view… 😦
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Forgiveness is such a big concept and it can encompass a lot of diversity in the forms that it takes. I think that Scarlett Lewis is taking it on faith that there is simply a continuum from little things like social isolation and rejection to a full murderous mental health breakdown such as Adam Lanza experienced. I’m sure she’s onto something, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if it were more complicated than that.
I have never endured something as horrific as what the Lewis family and the other Sandy Hook families have, but I think it is an open question, in some cases, whether a lack of forgiveness will necessarily poison the victim’s soul.
There are a few people in my life that I have not forgiven, but I truly never think about them. I’ve forgotten them, and forgotten what they did, to the point of them just not mattering anymore. The thought of dredging up those old memories and feelings in order to forgive is not very appealing and seems like it would just be like being re-traumatized all over again.
Perhaps for lesser misdeeds, it is possible to become neutral about it emotionally, without necessarily forgiving. Although maybe that’s a type of forgiveness in itself.
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Thanks KL – I listened to the short video and it’s wonderful that she’s in the forefront of implementing programmes in schools to choose love over anger, gratitude over entitlement .. thank you for sharing ..
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Thank you for sharing this message of forgiveness. It is said that when we forgive we set ourselves free. Thanks.
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Forgiveness is such a rare and precious thing. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
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What a powerful message this was. Truly a lady of courage.
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This is a good story to share. The Sandy Hook shooting still causes much grief in CT, especially for those directly affected.
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