Staring at the deep, intense and sad eyes of this Palestinian father—a father who had to teach his 13-year-old son who wanted to be a warrior that he did not choose peace out of weakness and that there is no shame in reconciliation—kept choking my lungs and constricting my throat with grief … (there just aren’t words to explain).
Against all of this, what is it that divides us?
Husband, forgive your wife. Stop keeping a record of wrongs.
Wife, forgive your husband. There is hope for him yet!
Children, forgive your parents. They are doing the best they can with what they have—their parents and childhoods weren’t perfect either.
Parents—forgive your children. Their issues are different than the ones you experienced. Their choices and mistakes are not referendums on you or your parenting. If you can’t give them grace—who in this world will?
Friends, remember the good in your estranged friends. Know that they also have grievances against you that you know nothing of. Bridge the gap. Create closeness once again. Start the peace talks.
All of us, don’t despise the stranger, attach labels, objectify the other. As soon as we do, we’re certainly headed on the road to hatred and violence.
Forgive as you’ve been forgiven.
Forgive 70 times seven.
Forgive that your sins may be forgiven you.
With the words of a Palestinian father who lives 24 hours a day with the mental image of his precious daughter falling to the ground—‘don’t choose revenge, don’t choose to be the victim, don’t choose to become the warrior … it doesn’t work.’
