A few years ago, one of our brothers lost the mother of his children in a gang-related shooting. A bullet intended for someone else struck and killed her. For a while, we knew the sentencing was approaching, meaning our brother might have to face those responsible for this tragedy that forever altered his and his children’s lives. We often prayed for this situation not to arise, fully aware of the potential for further violence. But God had other plans, leading to one of the most powerful displays of humility and forgiveness I have ever witnessed.
One of those responsible did come here, and they were confronted with the choice of acting out in violence, as many might have expected.
I watched two men, their lives forever intertwined by tragedy, lock fingers through a fence separating them. Both came to tears. One wept with regret and sincere sorrow for his part in what happened. The other shed tears of compassion and relief, realizing he had just been blessed by God with the ability to forgive something that had seemed impossible to forgive just hours before.
