This week in Minnesota the wife of a former well known Minnesota Viking was sentenced to 4 years in prison for fleeing from the scene of a horrific accident that left one family without a son and one employer without f a chef. She left a husband and children without a wife and mother. There were no winner's in this case.
When she was sentenced she wanted to apologized to the family of the deceased young man and promised she would do her best to honor his memory. She told them that she did this by having his image tattooed on her wrist.Through tears, she told his mother, father, and brother that she was sorry.
“The remorse was real. We do forgive her and this will end up being a good day for the justice system,” said Kono. Phanthavong’s niece, Souksa Vanh, was glad to finally hear from Senser.
“It felt like a relief to hear her come out and speak for herself,” said Vanh.
“The remorse was real. We do forgive her and this will end up being a good day for the justice system,” said Kono. Phanthavong’s niece, Souksa Vanh, was glad to finally hear from Senser.
“It felt like a relief to hear her come out and speak for herself,” said Vanh.
This family had waited long for this woman's apology to come forward and whereas many of the family members wanted to lashed back at this woman the elder spokes person in this family cautioned them against speaking out. Instead they waited for the proper time when healing would take place and when she finally spoke up at her sentencing it was as though they were freed from the pain of the past. How often do we allow ourselves to be chained to our past because of our reluctance of letting go of anger? How often do we allow the pain from our past hold us captive from living in the present?
In the area of trial law families are often prevented from apologizing and in many cases attorneys cautioned many to never begin the road toward forgiveness. No wonder the pain of grief lingers and never ends. How can it possibly end when the legal system props up these huge walls between the opposing parties.
The attorney I had hired very early on in my grief even advised me to never reach out to the doctor I had the grievance against even when he told me we really didn't have a case. His rationale? Just in case there may be a break through of new evidence that would make this possible to file the lawsuit..
We have a choice in this life. On the one hand we can harbor resentment, anger against the party of perceived wrong for the rest of our lives, or we can seek forgiveness and reconciliation and with that a special peace that God gives us once we have laid down our wrongs. Because of my faith in Jesus Christ I was able to lay down my anger and my resentment at the foot of the cross and seek to forgive the medical community. Through my faith in Christ I understood that Maria was in a better place and that I would see her again when my life ended.
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean that the pain will go away. It will lessen in time, but it really never disappears completely. Forgiveness is the start of the healing process. God will walk with you through the painful journey of your loss just as He has walked with us in the days, months and years following our daughter's sudden death.
In the area of trial law families are often prevented from apologizing and in many cases attorneys cautioned many to never begin the road toward forgiveness. No wonder the pain of grief lingers and never ends. How can it possibly end when the legal system props up these huge walls between the opposing parties.
The attorney I had hired very early on in my grief even advised me to never reach out to the doctor I had the grievance against even when he told me we really didn't have a case. His rationale? Just in case there may be a break through of new evidence that would make this possible to file the lawsuit..
We have a choice in this life. On the one hand we can harbor resentment, anger against the party of perceived wrong for the rest of our lives, or we can seek forgiveness and reconciliation and with that a special peace that God gives us once we have laid down our wrongs. Because of my faith in Jesus Christ I was able to lay down my anger and my resentment at the foot of the cross and seek to forgive the medical community. Through my faith in Christ I understood that Maria was in a better place and that I would see her again when my life ended.
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean that the pain will go away. It will lessen in time, but it really never disappears completely. Forgiveness is the start of the healing process. God will walk with you through the painful journey of your loss just as He has walked with us in the days, months and years following our daughter's sudden death.
No comments:
Post a Comment