Today during Chinese period, the teacher was randomly picking people to read. Before he chose the third person, I told Xiaotong "I've got a feeling it's you". right there. smack, it's her. LOL. Thank goodness I controlled my laughter. ooh, Idol was so cute today. haha. oh yea, smallville and charmed's coming back on 5. (: I caught a glimpse of the last episode of charmed season 8 which is episode 22. so nice. Today Jan lent a book to me; Rachel's Tears. It's a very inspiring book. I'm gonna get one myself. And Mary's lending me Mcdaniels! Guess what. Mary, Amanda, Wynee, Grace, ShuQi, Gracia and Janice are all influenced by ME to read; Mcdaniels. hahaha!
Let me share with you portions of what I've read:
"Everyone wrestles with questions about good and evil, asking how God can permit bad things to happen in the world. We continue to wrestle with these same issues, and we certainly don't have all the answers. But in some ways, the losses we have endured have helped us experience a deeper level of trust in God and a more accepting faith that He knows exactly what he is doing.
The ways of God are mysterious, but we believe that God sovereignly prepared Rachel for her own death, providing her with an increasingly clear awareness that the end was near."
"People respong differently to tragedy when it strikes their lives. Some never get over it. Others become bitter and angry, and that is easily understandable. However, we are given the opportunity to experience a realm of grace that is incomprehensible to some when we choose to forgive. Our understanding of God's heart left us only one choice, the decision to forgive. It was the choice of Jesus as He hung on the cross, dying. He said in Matthew 5:43-44:"You have heard that it was said,'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Forgiveness is not just for the offender. It is also for the one who is offended. If we do not forgive, we end up in perpetual anger and bitterness and eventually offend others with our words or actions. If we forgive, we experience a "letting go" or cleansing process that frees us from the offender. There is a great misunderstanding about forgiveness. Forgiveness is not pardon. Forgiveness is an attitude, while pardon is an action. Unforgiveness blocks God's ability to flow through us to help others."
Maybe these words can help somoeone out there who is suffering.
With Love,
Jelena.