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Story of true forgiveness and the power of God
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/113008/met_361819515.shtml
This article was front page in the newspaper today, it is an amazing story for one but it means so much more to me because it is about my dad and family. If you have not read it, in 1984 my Aunt Vera was killed by her jealous
ex-husband, James. James went to prison after confessing, and my dad was filled with anger virtually putting him in a prison as well. I am sure any of you can imagine how angry my dad was at the man who killed his only sister, he plotted to have James killed once released and until then drowned out all his pain with alcohol.
This murder happened two years before my parents were married and five years before I was born but, it has affected us even now 25 years later. As I said my dad was consumed with anger and essentially an alcoholic, and sense he could not reach James he took it out on our family. He never physically abused any of us, but yelled at us and fought with my mom to the point she almost left him. About the time I was seven God got a hold of my dad and straightened him out in amazing ways. Seemingly overnight after coming to grips with God my dad stopped drinking and smoking and hasn't touched anything in twelve years. Being I was so young it was easy for me to forgive my father for the hard times he put me through, even though I never understood the story until a little over a year ago.
Today my dad is a great guy and just watching him I see how God can work with any situation. God has taken this tale of hate and pain and changed it into love and forgiveness. In the past year I have watched this story go from my house, to jails and now to the media. This is just further proof that if you trust in God he will make everything work out and use it in a way that will truly blow your mind.
This article was front page in the newspaper today, it is an amazing story for one but it means so much more to me because it is about my dad and family. If you have not read it, in 1984 my Aunt Vera was killed by her jealous
ex-husband, James. James went to prison after confessing, and my dad was filled with anger virtually putting him in a prison as well. I am sure any of you can imagine how angry my dad was at the man who killed his only sister, he plotted to have James killed once released and until then drowned out all his pain with alcohol.
This murder happened two years before my parents were married and five years before I was born but, it has affected us even now 25 years later. As I said my dad was consumed with anger and essentially an alcoholic, and sense he could not reach James he took it out on our family. He never physically abused any of us, but yelled at us and fought with my mom to the point she almost left him. About the time I was seven God got a hold of my dad and straightened him out in amazing ways. Seemingly overnight after coming to grips with God my dad stopped drinking and smoking and hasn't touched anything in twelve years. Being I was so young it was easy for me to forgive my father for the hard times he put me through, even though I never understood the story until a little over a year ago.
Today my dad is a great guy and just watching him I see how God can work with any situation. God has taken this tale of hate and pain and changed it into love and forgiveness. In the past year I have watched this story go from my house, to jails and now to the media. This is just further proof that if you trust in God he will make everything work out and use it in a way that will truly blow your mind.
Comment
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Comment by Becky Yerkes on April 8, 2009 at 11:21pm - It really is a small world after all, I just sent an e-mail about this to two of the people at my church back in Interlachen, they knew Gator. Thanks for sharing that with us tonight.
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Comment by Grace Eitzenberger on December 1, 2008 at 4:01pm - wow, really good story, man. God is great. :)
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Comment by Nelson Cowan on December 1, 2008 at 2:36pm - Good stuff...what a story.
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Comment by Michael Anderson on December 1, 2008 at 1:05am - it all takes time, to heal, to forgive, to live
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Comment by Joey Rodil on November 30, 2008 at 11:53pm - that's just awesome!
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Comment by Geri on November 30, 2008 at 6:23pm - Wow. I remember you telling me parts of this story, but hearing the whole thing now, I see even more just how faithful of a God we serve.
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Comment by Kelsey Linduff on November 30, 2008 at 1:10pm - Thats awesome Nick. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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