Forgiving In The Midst Of The Dark Days

On the morning of October 2, 2006, Charles Carl Roberts barricaded himself inside West Nickel Mines Amish School. After murdering five young girls and wounding six others, Roberts committed suicide. It was a dark day for the Amish community of West Nickel Mines, but it was also a dark day for Marie Roberts, the wife of the gunman, and her two young children.

On the following Saturday, Marie went to her husband’s funeral. She and her children watched in amazement as Amish families — about half of the seventy-five mourners present — came and stood alongside them in the midst of their blinding grief. Despite the horrific crimes the man had committed against them, the Amish came to mourn Charles Carl Roberts as a husband and daddy.

Bruce Porter, a fire department chaplain who attended the Service, was profoundly moved: “It’s the love, the heartfelt forgiveness they have toward the family. I broke down and cried seeing it displayed.” He said Marie Roberts was also touched. “She was absolutely, deeply moved by the love shown.”

 — “Amish Mourn Gunman in School 
Rampage,” USA Today (October 7, 2006)

Peace Despite Life's Pain

Horatio Spafford, a successful lawyer and real-estate investor, was a father of five. Tragedy first struck him and his family when his only son died of Scarlet fever at a young age. Then the year after, when the loss was still in their mind, a devastating fire destroyed most of the properties he had invested in.

Wanting to get some needed break from all their pain, Spafford arranged for him and his family to sail and have a vacation. But since he had things to attend to at the last minute, he sent his wife and daughters ahead of him. Sadly, several days later, news came to him that the ship they were on had a collision and his four daughters died.

Spafford, soon after and despite all these tragedies,  wrote these words that have since became a famous hymn, lifting up grieving hearts over centuries:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well (it is well),with my soul (with my soul),

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

And Lord haste the day, 

when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, 

and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.