Experiencing the Goodness of God
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..., we have been told repeatedly to love one another and to forgive. However, it is hard to determine if we would truly be able to do so in every adverse circumstance. It is only when we find ourselves in such a situation that we will learn from within whether we can truly forgive or if our forgiveness depends on the situation. Like most individuals, it was highly unlikely that it would be easy for me to forgive someone who thought to take my life, yet I found it very easy to do.
My forgiveness extended to my writing a letter to the prosecutor expressing my wish for no charges to be brought against Lowell. However, my wish could not be considered and this was communicated to me in a letter from the Attorney General's office. Despite the reality that the case had to be tried, I had made the decision not to turn my back on him. My decision to assist him as best I could was for as much my healing as his. It was important in my view that Lowell had less to concern himself with, so I decided to handle as much of his personal affairs as I could. These included taking care of outstanding bills and finding funds for his legal expenses; not to mention getting messages to family members. At the end of the day,Lowell was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. During that period, I visited him monthly, took Christmas dinner on Christmas day and ensured that he and his cell mate had the necessary toiletries. At no time could I turn my back on him. When I was unable to visit, we communicated through letters, poems and drawings. For both of us emotional healing came. Having committed my life to Christ days just prior to the shooting, I was looking at things differently. My willingness to extend a helping hand and communicate not only made things a little more bearable for Lowell, but also put both of us on the road to emotional healing. Despite my willingness to forgive, it was very difficult for members of my family, especially my mother. A true test of our Christianity comes in circumstances such as this one. When we confess to be a Christian, we never can tell how we would react. Understandably, human components take over and naturally we develop hatred and an instant desire to get even with the one who has wronged us. Yet as Christians we are asked to forgive and turn the other cheek. When I sort to do that, many thought me crazy or stupid. However, I must say that there were those who admired me for my ability to forgive. I sometime wonder, however, if my reaction would have been the same if my assailant was a complete stranger. I cannot honestly answer that at this time and I hope I am never put in the situation to find out. I can only hope that Christ's forgiving love has somehow rubbed off on me that I too would be able to forgive the wrongdoings of another whom I had no previous knowledge or relationship.
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About the Book
Do you have personal goals in mind and see your present situation as a hindrance to achieving them? Are you struggling with finances, relationships and forgiveness? Faith and trust in God may be the answer to your concerns.
At the completion of high school, it was my dream to attend college. Having no money, I realized that I had to do something to make my dream a reality. In this book, I share how I made a start toward achieving my first dream by getting a job and then watching numerous doors open. Learn from my personal experiences the goodness of God and how He saved me from death and opened doors, enabling a single mother to obtain a college education and provide for her son.
It is my hope that the readers, particularly adolescents, will find this book useful in dealing with life's problems and issues, and realize the importance of perseverance while allowing God to work things out in their lives. As for adults, I hope they will be strengthened in their determination, focus, fortitude, understanding and forgiveness, and learn to lean on God to help them through the hard times.
Virginia Romer, PhD
About the Author
Virginia Romer, PhD is an educator of twenty-five years with the Bahamian Public Educational System, where she presently serves as a high school principal on the island of San Salvador. She has had the opportunity to work with students of varying backgrounds and have shared her experience of coming from a poor family to encourage them not to give up on the goals they have set. Her words to her former school's graduating class of 2009 under the theme “Dream the Impossible, Achieve the Unattainable” resulted in many adults present thanking her for encouraging them (as adults) not to give up on their dream no matter how long it may take. In her speech she shared her long but successful journey of eighteen years from high school diploma to a Doctorate Degree, which she attributed to the goodness of God. A devoted Seventh-day Adventist, Virginia having had a near death experience, acknowledges that her speared life and successes are due to the relationship and trust she has in God. This first time author shares simple everyday occurrences in the life of a simple ordinary person - herself. Through this book she shares God's goodness displayed in her personal life in the hopes that the readers would embrace and allow Him to work His goodness in theirs.