A Survivor Who Forgave and Lived Well.
I don't know if you have heard of Corrie Ten Boom. She was someone who endured much evil, and came out the other side. She, her sister and her dad sheltered Jews from the Nazis. She did so at the risk of her life. In fact, her dad and then her sister died in Nazi concentration camps for the crime of caring for the helpless! Yet she learned, not only to survive, but to forgive from the heart.
It was with great interest I would listen to her, because she had lived what she believed. Bitter hatred turned to compasionate grace for those who participated in the death of her two closest people in life. Here is someone who knew what it was to forgive and to live again.
A struggle for her was not to resort to bitter words--and in time, she developed an approach for speaking truth when speaking truth is needed. She would weigh this and ask these three questions, before ever attempting to speak into or correct a situation or behavior.
1) Is it true?
2) Is it kind?
3) Is it necessary?
The book of James teaches us to control our tongues. His word is sharp and clear:
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be... (James 3:9-10 NIV)
We would do well to adopt a simple method to weigh whether to speak, or "hold our tongue" from someone who had much to forgive.
© David Chotka 2020
