People ask, โWhere was God in the concentration camps? He was always just above, watching and wondering-where was man?โ Victor Frankl
I picked up the book, Love and Hate, by Bill Halamandaris to read on the plane as I flew from Ottawa to St Johnโs. Itโs the story of Henri Landwirth, a Jewish boy of 13 who was an inmate in Nazi Germany concentration camps from the age of 13-18. Iโs a story of his survival, his immigrating to The United States and his success as a businessman and philanthropist. Link to Wikipedia bio
Henri Landrithโs story is a story of forgiveness.
This past week I was speaking to my friend, who is of German descent and we somehow got on the topic of war. He said that his was the only generation of his family that did not have to fight in a war. His father, who had been a medic in the German army during the second world, moved his family to Canada so that they would not have to fight in a conflict. His parents were Christian and his father would not talk about his war experiences.
I thought about the two extremes. One story of a surviving family who left Germany for a better life. The other of a broken boy who left for a better life as well.
The one common thread, they learned to forgive. The hatred that they had was replaced by love through forgiveness.
A few bible verses that speak about forgiveness.
Matthew 6: 14,15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6: 9-15 9 โThis, then, is how you should pray: โ โOur Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.โ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
There is so much hatred in the world today, we need to exercise forgiveness..
Forgive and Be Blessed
Steve Wiscombe
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