Could you forgive a murderer?

Question

I want to know who out there thinks they actually have the mental power to do this:

There was a lady, who used to have a daughter. When her daughter was 15, she was hit by a drunk driver on the side of the road and died on the spot. Later, during the trial, the lady did not want to press charges. After the trial was over, even, she went up to the man who killed her daughter, looked him in the eyes, and forgave him.

Now, honestly, I would like to say I could do this, but I don't know if, in that situation, I could. Could you forgive the person that killed your daughter?

Answer 1

yes I would. Jesus said we should. But still he still
needs to be punish for few years and that about it.

Answer 2

Talk about a tough one! I have a 19 year old daughter so this makes it really hard. I think at first I would hate the person, I know I would. And probably for a long time. And I would want to see them in prison for sure. But after five or six years, if God urged me to forgive them and the person was really sorry from the depths of their soul, I might be able to forgive them with God's help. Major God's help! But I really can't swear to it. I don't think there's no way to know until it happens to you.

Answer 3

Believe it or not, my 6 yr old son actually said to me, during a conversation about 2 months ago,

"you know what mum, even if someone killed me, I would still forgive them"

I looked at him a bit puzzled, not too sure what to say,

he then continued, "you know why i would mum, because that's what Jesus would do"

I had my son when I was 18 and now im a single mum. we dont go to church and ive never really taught him much about religion so I dont know where it came from.


If you think about it. When you forgive a person for doing something that really hurts you, it releases that negativity that is inside of you. Forgiveness bascically allows you to let go of the pain that was caused so that it cannot control your emotions anymore. Forgiveness is a great thing.

Answer 4

Forgiving someone doesn't mean that you don't hate what they did. It means that you have the strong inner self to coup with the tragedy, and will not let the event hinder you from living the rest of your life in a positive and progressive manner. Losing a love one to a murderer, is horrible, but the lost person can be remembered for their good and loving ways. By concentrating on the positive side of that lost persons life, forgiveness strengthens ones ability to move on. You certainly don't want to have hate in your heart as it will keep you from living a good life for the remainder of your life

Answer 5

I don't believe that death is the end of life. Had the young man repented? Did he ask for forgiveness? Did he show remorse? It would be very hard to forgive but no use throwing two lives away. Some people make horrendous mistakes but go on to make great contributions to society.

Answer 6

Don't know, and never will unless I'm in that situation. Like you said, I would like to think that I would. But the fact the woman did not press charges is wrong. Criminals feed off of the "understanding" of society. While the need to forgive them is necessary, they also need to be punished accordingly for their sin.

Answer 7

no. I couldn't. whether it was an accident or not. i may not press charges but i certainly would not forgive them for their stupidity. I could never even look at the person in the face. When my best friend was stabbed (17 times) we sat in this room...police everywhere, me, her mom, her dad, and her boyfriend... when it was her moms turn to speak to the murderer she looked at him straight in the eye with a pissed off look (a bit scary actually) and said "you stabbed my daughter, and then you stabbed her again, and again, and again, then you stabbed her again, and again, and again, then you did it again" and she did that 17 times. That was it. that's all she said. I don't think that man had ever been more scared in his life. If it was accidental...I'm not sure if i would press charges or not...i don't have kids yet. but i could never forgive them for what they had done

Answer 8

That mother is a better woman than I. I don't know that I could forgive someone that killed my daughter because they choose to drive drunk. There is a special place in heaven for this mom.

Answer 9

No---I would not be able to do that.
But I think the people who can are very connected to God, which I don't think I am.

HOWEVER----If I had a child victimized by a serial molester, and a fellow parent brought a gun to the trial & shot the molester dead----I would not only forgive, but I would go out of my way to make their prison stay comfortable, with care packages & money or whatever.

Answer 10

It would be hard to forgive them at first but i think i could truely forgive that person. Why? because the Bible says that in order for the Father to forgive you, you first have to forgive. And then i look at things this way!!! People die and no one knows the hour that they will die, therefore it is all part of life.

Answer 11

i would like to say i could too. but there is no way i could no unless i was in that situation. someone that can forgive a person that took a piece of their life away has amazing strength. i dont no if you believe in God or not, but i have a feeling that woman does. i think that anyone who has God in their life would make an effort to forgive, but this amazing woman had the strength and courage to do so.