Love and Forgiveness

I saw a news story the other night about a 19 year old who had committed a horrible crime. In the reporting of the story, they explained shocking details of the crime, leaving me, as you would imagine, saddened for the victims family.

The incident had obviously occured some time ago, and the report was a follow-up of of his court trial which resulted in a judgment ruling that he be sentenced to death for his crime.

Suddenly the scene changed and the reporter was interviewing the mother of the young man who had committed the crime. Being interviewed at her middle-class suburban home, this seemingly well educated, articulate, likable mother of three spoke lovingly of her young criminal son, trying unsuccessfully to hide her personal sorrow and disappointment.

She spoke proudly of her family, describing each person individually. Her husband of 22 years who was a plumber. Her daughter 14 had just entered high school, another son 16 a high school junior, and her 19 year old who had graduated a year earlier an honor student and had just begun college. As her details about her family continued, the picture became clear that as parents they'd done all they could to lead their children down the right path.

The reporter asked the mother how she thought her son could have committed such a horrible offense after growing up in what seemed to be a good family, a good neighborhood, with all the right examples, and how she would cope with his execution. The mother hesitated for only a split second before speaking.

It's all about choices the woman said. We provided the best that we could. We taught him right from wrong, we gave our son all our love, and showed him the path to travel. We are deeply sorrowful for his victim and the family and loved ones who must grieve that loss. As for our son, he is our son. We love him. We gave him life and have loved him for 19 years. As horrible as his crime may be, that can't stop us from loving him. Perhaps that's difficult for people to understand after hearing what a horrible thing he did, but he will always be our son. Yes we are ashamed of his crime which we loathe. Yes we wish he hadn't made that choice. Yes we understand the judgment, that he must be placed to death for his choice. It was afterall his choice. However, our love for our children doesn't stop because of a wrong they've done. We have forgiven him and will love him through it all, and for all time.

As I heard the woman speak, and watched the tear roll down her face, which she fought so hard to hide, I was overcome by her sorrow and felt my throat swelling up, as tears began to run down my face.

I thought about his offense and his mothers courage in facing his death sentence, and that Scripture says: each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

I thought about love. How powerful an emotion. Love and how it can carry people through so much pain. Love and how it will cause us to forgive what may seem unforgivable to those who don't have the love in their heart to forgive.

It reminded me that we do things through the journey of our lives that through hindsight, we may feel were wrong, perhaps even shameful, or unforgivable. Things we regret or wish we'd never done. It also reminded me of the joy, that all those things are washed away from our past, in that moment that we reach into our hearts sincerly, and ask Jesus to come into our hearts and we give our lives to Him, accepting Him as Lord, making Him master of our lives. We are born again and all things are new.

For Scripture says: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our tresspasses, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

it also says: And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Hebrews 10:7

I think about how many of us hold grudges over some things that may go on for days, weeks, or even years. For some, the reason for holding these feelings may not even be remembered, just that they're angry about something. I think about how so many of us get angry or upset with our friends or family members over little things, little nuisances throughout the day, that if we tried, we really could overlook. I think about love and forgiveness, and how much more rewarding, and more meaningful our lives would be if we made an effort to practice it more each day.

Imagine, Jesus can forgive us, according to the riches of His grace, meaning we don't even deserve it, but He forgives us simply out of love. Imagine that our lawless deeds will be remembered no more. Imagine the mother in that report forgave and continued to love her son. So how much easier is it for us to forgive each other for our differences and share the love.

I encourage you to forgive all things, to remember no more, and to truly love.
~Pops

Chicken and Dumplins

Welcome to the first of my blogs. My URL title "warm fuzzies and smiles lines" is intended to express the goal of what I hope you'll find here. Only warm fuzzy feelings and notes of thoughts, experiences, and stories of times that have imbedded smile lines upon my face, and will hopefully do the same for you.

Here you'll find shared memories, as well as anecdotes of fun times, funny moments, perhaps hard-learned lessons that resulted in good outcomes, heart-warming and moving stories, places I've been and seen, people I've met and known who influenced me and left a mark or lesson worth sharing, tidbits about my family and more.

Of course being spiritual and enjoying the fruits of my Christian life, here you will also find many of my thoughts, and favorite verses from the Bible. If you're a Christian I hope you will enjoy the verses I'll share from time to time, and perhaps find comfort and ponder what meaning they may have for your life at this moment in time.

For those who are not Christian, or students of the Bible, I invite you to read the verses I may feel called to place here from time to time. Search in your heart for their meaning and take a moment to pray, asking God to open your heart to their true meaning. Perhaps these verses of Scripture are not meant as a message directly to you today, or perhaps, they are, and on this day you'll be moved by what you read. If you are, I encourage you to pick up a Bible and continue, find a Bible based church in your area and begin to seek God's Word. Seek out a Bible study group and learn more of what God has in store for all those who seek Him, for Scripture says "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED" Romans 10:11 and remember that "while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" Romans 5:8

The Blog title Chicken and Dumplins is an expression of what I hope will be the final result of how this blog leaves you. Full, filled, satisfied, nourished, pleased, smilin', just like after eatin' Chicken and Dumplins.