“I forgive you,” said the daughter of 70-year-old Ethel Lance to the 21-year-old man (Dylann Roof) who allegedly murdered her mother in church and appeared at an emotionally charged video court appearance in Charleston on Friday afternoon, two days after a horrific mass shooting there.

Relatives of the Emanuel church victims stood up one by one in the courtroom, offering forgiveness to the man accused of murdering their sons, mothers and grandfathers in cold blood, as a nation continued to call for justice.

“You took something very precious from me, but I forgive you,” Lance’s daughter said through tears. “It hurts me. You hurt a lot of people, but may God forgive you.”

Speaking of her son Tywanza Sanders, Felicia Sanders said to the suspect: “We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms. You have killed some of the most beautifullest people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts. I will never be the same.”

She continued: “Tywanza was my hero. But as they say in the Bible study, we enjoyed you, but may God have mercy on your soul.”

These are the words of families who have lost their lost ones. But some have argued on social media and said, “How can they forgive someone who took other people’s lives”. 

Well, the truth is that the Bible teaches valuable lessons about life and how forgiveness is one of the most fundamental principles a human being should learn to do. 

Yes he committed a great sin, but he would be committing an even greater sin if he rejected God’s forgiveness. I personally think that he needs to repent and ask God for forgiveness for those he’s hurt, including himself. He needs to forgive himself.

I’m not a Psychologist and don’t know what he might be going through mentally or emotionally, but to some degree he probably hates what he’s done.

I know that God still loves him despite what he did. I pray for him, his family, and the families of all the victims and members of society as well – that we can all find peace and forgive.

Do you find yourself in this kind of dilemma where you don’t know whether you are ready to forgive or keep on hating and being angry at what has happened in your life? Let’s continue this conversation by clicking on the pop-up banner below. 

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