Matthew West - Forgiveness: Overcoming the Impossible

2013 by Matthew West

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ISBN-13: 978-1-4003-2256-5

Printed in China

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CONTENTS

BEST DAY EVER!

I remember the moment like it was yesterday.

Donald and I were newly married, new believers, on fire for all things God. We loved being at church, whether in the service or teaching Sunday School or hanging out with our Bible study group. That week we welcomed someone new to our apartment where we hosted the Wednesday night meeting.

Her name was Kathy Landers and she came alone.

Just her and her well-worn Bible.

Kathy was in her late forties, blonde with a pretty smile. But that wasnt what we noticed first about her. First we noticed Kathys peace. A crazy, wildly encompassing peace that walked with her through our front door and sat beside her on the sofa through coffee and introductions.

A peace that filled the room.

We asked Kathy to share her story. She sat a little straighter and her eyes lit up. I was married for twenty-one years to the love of my life, the greatest man I ever knew. His name was Tom. Her eyes sparkled like a love-struck teenager. We did everything together and we shared a very deep faith in God. She went on, her pace unrushed. She and Tom had married young and together raised two childrena boy and a girl.

The longer Kathy talked about Tom, the more uneasy I felt. Why was she speaking in the past tense? I braced myself for whatever was coming.

Kathy paused and caught her breath. A hint of sadness colored her expression. One year ago Tom was shot and killed by one of his work friends. I figured it was time I get back to a Bible study. Her smile came from somewhere deep inside her. So here I am.

Silence followed. Finally someone asked what happened and Kathy told us. A year ago her husband had gone duck hunting with a buddy from work. The guy knew nothing about guns, but he wanted to learn. The idea seemed fun so the two planned an all-day trip. I remember the morning Tom left. None of us had any idea what was coming.

Tom and his friend headed out to a remote lake. The morning went well, with Tom teaching the guy how to aim and shoot at the ducks. But Toms friend didnt get any solid shots at the ducks. Just after noon, the buddy began finding more enjoyment shooting other targets.

Thats when the tragedy happened.

Toms friend suddenly turned the gun away from the target and aimed it at Tom. We should play paintball sometime...

Before he finished his sentence, he accidentally pulled the trigger. Tom was shot in the head and died within minutes. Kathy had tears in her eyes as she told the story. It was an accident, of course. Later, Toms friend would tell police he thought the gun was empty. She paused. He also told them that Tom had clearly said to never point a gun at a person. The guy said he just wasnt thinking.

No charges were pressed against the friend, and the guy was able to move on with his life. As I listened, frustration seethed inside me. I had a special level of anger in my heart for people who were so clearly careless. But my rage didnt stand a chance against my curiosity.

How can you have such peace? I looked at her, trying to understand. I would think youd be angry. I mean, it wasnt fair, what happened.

No, it wasnt. Tears filled her eyes, even while her contentedness remained. Our kids lost their father. I lost the only man Ill ever love. She nodded slowly. I tried being bitter and angry. I almost lost myself.

She explained that God had shown her a better way. I woke up one morning and I knew I had to forgive him. Either that or Id die in my bitternessan angry woman my precious Tom wouldnt have recognized.

What did Kathy do?

She met up with Toms buddy for lunch one day and gave him a Bible. I looked him in the eyes and took hold of his hands. Wed never met, so I told him who I was and that I had forgiven him. Her smile came easily at that part of the story. Hes a Christian now. We write to each other every now and then. For a long time she waited, gathering her emotions. I miss Tom every day of my life. But I have peace. Only forgiveness can do that.

Kathys story changed the way I look at the idea of forgiveness. If God can forgive me... if Kathy could forgive the man who shot and killed her husband... then I can forgive others. I was so struck by Kathys story I used it as the basis of one of my first novels, Waiting for Morning. The subject of the book is the same as the one you are holding right now.

Forgiveness.

As Matthew West sings in his life-changing song, The prisoner that you really free is you.

The keys are in this book.

Karen Kingsbury

#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is Americas favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her latest novel, The Chance, also deals with forgiveness. Karen and Matthew are friends and have appeared at events together. Karen often writes her Life-Changing Fiction while listening to Matthews music. She lives in Nashville, TN., with her husband, Don and their five almost grown sons, three of whom were adopted from Haiti. Their daughter, Kelsey, appeared in Matthew Wests The Heart of Christmas movie. She is married to Christian recording artist Kyle Kupecky.

I need this book. And, since youre reading it, I have a feeling you might need this book as well. Truth is, at some point in life, all of us will wind up having to figure out what to do about forgiveness. On any given day, in any given situation, involving any given relationship, we may find ourselves forced to face the complexities of forgiveness from a number of vantage points. Actually, we begin receiving an education on forgiveness early in life. As children, we may not be able to define or completely understand the full meaning of the word, but we can see the need for forgiveness on any school playground or during any family vacation. In fact, Im sorry is one of the first things kids are taught to include in their budding vocabulary. Ill give you an example.