Comments on: Elizabeth Olten and Forgiveness http://www.melissahatfield.com/2009/10/26/elizabeth-olten-and-forgiveness/ Random Thoughts from the Journey of Life Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:03:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Melissa Hatfield http://www.melissahatfield.com/2009/10/26/elizabeth-olten-and-forgiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Melissa Hatfield Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:18:23 +0000 http://www.melissahatfield.com/?p=676#comment-408 Mary: Thank you for commenting. I never said that the individual should not be punished or that forgiving would bring Elizabeth back. There are always consequences for our choices. We shouldn't remove the consequences. Forgiveness is not to bring the dead back but to help the living live. Mary:

Thank you for commenting.

I never said that the individual should not be punished or that forgiving would bring Elizabeth back.

There are always consequences for our choices. We shouldn’t remove the consequences.

Forgiveness is not to bring the dead back but to help the living live.

]]> By: mary http://www.melissahatfield.com/2009/10/26/elizabeth-olten-and-forgiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-407 mary Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:31:24 +0000 http://www.melissahatfield.com/?p=676#comment-407 If they are not punished, they will kill again. Forgiveness won't bring the dead back. If they are not punished, they will kill again. Forgiveness won’t bring the dead back.

]]> By: Jeanie McGowan http://www.melissahatfield.com/2009/10/26/elizabeth-olten-and-forgiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Jeanie McGowan Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:21:59 +0000 http://www.melissahatfield.com/?p=676#comment-400 Such wise words, Mel. Our hearts break for all those who are touched in any way by the events of recent days. May God's grace and unconditional love wash over us all to bring comfort, peace and hope for tomorrow. Many of us are praying along with you for our youth as they deal with their all their emotions right now. God does understand... Such wise words, Mel. Our hearts break for all those who are touched in any way by the events of recent days. May God’s grace and unconditional love wash over us all to bring comfort, peace and hope for tomorrow. Many of us are praying along with you for our youth as they deal with their all their emotions right now. God does understand…

]]> By: Heather Feeler http://www.melissahatfield.com/2009/10/26/elizabeth-olten-and-forgiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-399 Heather Feeler Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:56:46 +0000 http://www.melissahatfield.com/?p=676#comment-399 Thank you for sharing this, Melissa. Fear is such a powerful thing, no matter what your age. Thank you for sharing this, Melissa. Fear is such a powerful thing, no matter what your age.

]]> By: Melissa Hatfield http://www.melissahatfield.com/2009/10/26/elizabeth-olten-and-forgiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Melissa Hatfield Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:04:50 +0000 http://www.melissahatfield.com/?p=676#comment-398 Great questions. I don't have answers for either of them. When these things happen, here are things I remember: 1. God doesn't control us. God gave up control of us so that we could freely choose to love Him and not be a puppet. That means God can't control us sometimes and other times can control us. God gave up total control - knowing that sometimes people will choose to do horrible things. So, we either have a God who manipulates us or a God who doesn't. 2. This happens every day around the world. Horrible tragedies. Innocent children violently abused and killed. For our Elizabeth, there are thousands of other Elizabeths. We have no more right to be shielded from this than a mom in the Congo or Iraq. So when we ask "Why me? Why Elizabeth?", God calls us to stop and think "Why anyone?" Because humans are sinful, selfish and make horrible choices. These are things that I remind myself about. If you get angry at God, it is okay. God can handle our anger. But we can't stay angry. We have to move forward and only God's grace and help with forgiveness can help that happen. Keep asking tough questions and taking them to God. He won't abandon you or get mad at you. I really believe God understands........ Great questions. I don’t have answers for either of them. When these things happen, here are things I remember:

1. God doesn’t control us. God gave up control of us so that we could freely choose to love Him and not be a puppet. That means God can’t control us sometimes and other times can control us. God gave up total control – knowing that sometimes people will choose to do horrible things. So, we either have a God who manipulates us or a God who doesn’t.

2. This happens every day around the world. Horrible tragedies. Innocent children violently abused and killed. For our Elizabeth, there are thousands of other Elizabeths. We have no more right to be shielded from this than a mom in the Congo or Iraq. So when we ask “Why me? Why Elizabeth?”, God calls us to stop and think “Why anyone?” Because humans are sinful, selfish and make horrible choices.

These are things that I remind myself about. If you get angry at God, it is okay. God can handle our anger. But we can’t stay angry. We have to move forward and only God’s grace and help with forgiveness can help that happen.

Keep asking tough questions and taking them to God. He won’t abandon you or get mad at you. I really believe God understands……..

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