Living the Gospel: forgiving and reconciling

In our personal and social lives we can find ourselves in an atmosphere of growing hostility and competition. As Christians we can go against this current by initiating attempts to rebuild damaged or broken relationships.

Separation
After two years of marriage, our daughter and her husband decided to separate. We welcomed her back into our home. In moments of tension we tried to keep calm. With forgiveness and understanding in our hearts, we tried to maintain a relationship of openness towards her and towards her husband. We especially tried not to make judgments about anyone.
After three months of continuous listening, discreet help and many prayers, they got back together – with new awareness, trust and hope.
(M.L. – Malta)

As a sign of forgiveness
I thought I had always done my duty as a Christian, as mayor of my town and as a father. When, however, my 33-year-old son, the father of two young children, was killed during a robbery, I rebelled against God. Why had all this happened?
Later, I started on a journey of true conversion, during which I understood that God himself had given his Son out of love for us.
Five years later the trial began. In the courtroom I avoided even looking at the defendants. Unexpectedly, I met the eyes of the youngest of the killers.
I approached him. I held out my hand to shake his, as a sign of forgiveness.
(C.S. – Italy)

New atmosphere in the department
I am the manager of a company department and at the end of the year I have to do annual reviews of my employees. One employee had not given me much information for her evaluation, so I asked her to come in for an interview. Thanks to this, I discovered that I knew hardly anything about her. This meeting opened my eyes. It prompted me to change things, to promote various initiatives to show that we appreciate our employees – by celebrating their birthdays, and by organising parties with their families. Not only has the atmosphere in the department improved, but the output has also increased.
(M.T. – Hungary)

The ball
We have two very lively children. One morning I saw Nathan crying and Claire holding his ball. I immediately took it and gave it back to him. Nathan stopped crying, but Claire started to cry. So I took her aside to explain to her that Jesus taught us to love and to share. Even though she is still a child, she understood and let her little brother keep the ball. There have been many situations in which I was just about to punish her, but instead I managed to find love and patience within me.
Now she is always ready to help me.
(J.N.J. – Philippines)