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.
