The healing begins with forgiveness

After the Amish school shootings, the victims families visited the gunman's family to forgive and empathize with them on the afternoon of the shooting.

They could not let the sun to set before they forgave. They feel as Christians, they must forgive before they are forgiven.

They realize by hating someone, you only hurt yourself.

Twelve-year-old Saint Maria Goretti, after being stabbed 44 times and lay dying, forgave her attacker even though he showed no remorse.

After 10 years in prison, he still showed no remorse but had a vision of Maria who offered him a rose as forgiveness, that led to his conversion and he took a religious vows and helped many people.

At Maria's canonization as a saint, he sat next to Maria's mother totally forgiven.

Ed Smetana

Arlington Heights