I remember the freedom of being able to play in the neighborhood streets with my friends.
I remember the first music CD I got as a gift.
I remember that in 1991 the movie “Dancing with Wolves” won an Oscar.
I remember that in 1990, cell phones were launched in Brazil and although they looked like bricks, everyone had one hanging from their waists.
I remember that in 1990 I took the college entrance exam.
I remember that in 1993, Junior, today my dear husband, was my best friend.
I remember that in 1994 Brazil won the world cup and I was on the streets of Ipanema commemorating with my friends.
But there’s one thing I don’t remember…
1994 was the end of the Apartheid.
It hasn’t been too long has it?
As you already know, we were visiting the churches in the country and visited one of our churches located in a poor community here in Windhoek.
At the end of the service, the people didn’t want to leave. They stayed singing and dancing while the ladies came over to shake my hand and hug me with such great affection that it made me emotional, for at that moment I remembered that in a not too distant past, those same ladies were humiliated and treated like garbage by people who thought they were superior due to the color of their skin…
While I was living as a rebellious adolescent and leading a selfish little life, thousands of people living here in Africa were treated like inferior beings.
Can you imagine what that’s like? To be treated worst than an animal and for this to be considered normal?
But forgiveness is a marvelous gift that they know how to give themselves.
They are not bitter and unpleasant, on the contrary, they are loving and affectionate even with those that caused them so much pain...
We must be like that…
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matthew 5: 44,46
Forgiveness is an amazing ability but is difficult to obtain. But it is also well worth the effort.
ReplyDeletethis is so true, Mrs Nanda. It is amazing to see them forgive and be free from the burden of hatred towards those who have oppressed them.
ReplyDeleteIt makes my issues with forgiving people so small and it puts things in real perspective.
thanks!
This is soo true. i have always seen these people to be that way, with such generous hearts. and we all need to b that way too, especially us christians with one another. those who are pure in heart, shall see God :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. We all need to be like this and love everybody, even those who hurt us. It puts it all into perspective because I've never felt anywhere near as much pain as these people have suffered. To have so many reasons to hate and yet to love in spite of all those reasons... that's pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteIf we don’t forgive, we are only hurting ourselves...and one thing I have come to understand is that if there was ever someone who had the right to hold a grudge it would have to be God Himself, because He is the only one who is perfect and hasn’t done anything wrong to us, in the opposite He has given the best to us and yet we still treat Him like nothing.
ReplyDeleteWe should always forgive and this passage really says it all, and it taught me many things I know today.
Thanks Mrs Nanda for reminding us the value of forgiveness.