Yesterday, I finished reading Immaculée Ilibagiza’s book, “Left to Tell.”
Once I finish reading a book, I always add it into my Goodreads account. I like having a list of all the books I’ve read because it helps me remember titles and stories. Plus, I like reviewing the books for other readers.
Real quick, the book is on Immaculée’s survival of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. She hid in a tiny bathroom with seven other women for 91 days while people of her tribe were hunted. When she finally emerged, she found out her parents and two of her brothers had been murdered, her family home was burned to the ground, and many of her relatives were dead. She had to learn to pick up the pieces of her life and start anew.
With God’s help, she forgave the people that killed her family and she chose to bring light and love into the world instead of more hatred and revenge.
After I gave my review, I looked at the other reviews and what was shocking is that those who disliked the book, disliked it because Immaculée had chosen to forgive those that took her family.
There were a few people who were legitimately mad that she forgave. In their mind, forgiveness meant she condoned the atrocities, which they saw as a betrayal to her family. They read the whole book and saw how Immaculée’s decision to bring more love helped her to heal and find peace and, yet, they still wanted her to hate.
A striking thing was that those that said this either claimed to have no faith or a weak faith, but one lady did comment with: “Maybe I should take note on how she suffered and got through it without it consuming her.”
Forgiving those that hurt you does not mean you condone their wrong doing. It doesn’t even mean you don’t desire justice. However, we can never find peace or joy in our lives, Catholic Pilgrims, if we don’t forgive. In fact, a hard heart continues to allow the injustice to wound us and shrivel our capacity to be truly happy.
Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Thursday.
