RECOGNIZABLE

On one year anniversary of Nickel Mine shooting, Amish girls'
parents talk of loss, faith, survival
By CINDY STAUFFER and AD CRABLE, Staff Lancaster New
Era


There can be a temptation to wonder, "Why our child, why us?" a
father says.But he adds, "We're not better than anybody else. Why couldn't it
happen to us?"The families readily say they are still learning about
forgiveness. The families' grace towards Roberts and his family in the
weeks after the murders stunned the world.In fact, some people told the families
they could never forgive Roberts if they were in the families' shoes.That was
hard to understand, one mother says, adding the Amish don't fully grasp the
grudges that some folks hold toward others. The families say they didn't make a
sudden decision to forgive Roberts. The notion already was in their hearts,
nurtured by their belief that as Jesus forgives them, so must they forgive
others.It has not always been easy. There have been times they even struggled
with their faith."You have to have a will to forgive," one mother says. "You
have to want to forgive and that's the first step."A father says that as they
"released" Roberts, they released themselves from anger and from
bitterness. But not from pain.His wife says quietly, "Just because you've
forgiven doesn't mean you've forgotten, and that it doesn't
hurt."

This is a humane portrayal of Amish forgiveness. Thank You.

Once more

Nickel Mines Accountability Committee releases report Committee
says 1/3 of $4.3M spent on victims By STAFF REPORT Lancaster New
Era



The forgiveness extended by the Amish community to the Roberts
family was noted around the world. The Amish did not wish such publicity for
doing what Jesus taught and want to make sure that glory is given to God for
that witness. Many from Nickel Mines have pointed out that forgiveness is a
journey, that you need help from your community of faith and from God, and
sometimes even from counselors, to make and hold on to a decision to not become
a hostage to hostility. It is understood that hostility destroys
community.

Thank you.