Tears of Aida

Although tears of a woman can be those of joy, quite often they are tears of loss and sadness. In the movie “Amish Grace” the tears of Aida are the tears of a woman who lost her child. She lost part of her because that child was once in her womb, part of her.  Pregnant women who lose their unborn children whether in miscarriage or abortion feel that great loss.

Aida took care of that child only to see her child shot when she was only 14. The human drama is the continuing violence, a cycle of vengeance.  Violence is not only in shooting others but also in raping innocent girls taking advantage of their vulnerability and in stealing lands, in lending money with huge interest, in evading taxes when they are fair and due, in speaking ugly words when you should be silent, in enslaving yourself to the mighty business for a little profit. When you violate others, you are already violated of your own dignity as a human person.

A week after I saw Aida crying and sobbing, I can’t help it but remind you of our suffering too. My suffering stays in my memory and this causes me to remember and not forget violence against me. When I did my military service I was harassed and threatened. When I had my stroke my boss made fun of me. We all need healing of memory. We need to forgive ourselves and forgive others who caused us harm. Nelson Mandela was able to forgive his enemies who imprisoned him in South Africa. We need to reroute our energy to do good to others.   Any suffering a person endures without blaming someone else is a blessing. We need love... much love within our families and our churches and our communities, with our neighbours, with our co-workers, classmates or colleagues; and above all with God who has never abandoned us. He will supply not only joy in this life but eternal joy with Him in the next life; for heaven is love and joy is the fruit of love. Heaven is going to be an everlasting joy for those who choose God.  This is a lesson I learned from Aida who accepted at the end to forgive and reconcile. Not that her daughter became cheap but that Aida was able to grow into forgiveness and pardon.