Good Friday~ 2014
Dear Souls~ ( All 3 of you)
This year is the 20th Anniversary of the evening you killed my husband, Chris Walter, while robbing him on Good Friday, April 2, 1994. My heart still races in terror as I remember witnessing the mortal gunshot wound to his head while you attempted to escape in a getaway car...All while our precious 6 month old baby lay sleeping nearby. Rushing to my husband's side, I only found innocent blood gushing from his lifeless body.
For years, I struggled with anger and hate for you 3 strangers who wrecked Good Friday.
Not this Good Friday.
It's 20 years later and I don't hate you anymore.
I still hate what you did but I don't hate you in the slightest bit.
You, just like me, were created by God and He loves us more than we could ever imagine. Even though we betray Him or turn our backs on him, He still hopes that we will all come back to Him, to know His love for us and be with Him in heaven someday. I hope this for you, just as much as I hope this for myself and the rest of my family. We are never happy in this life until we find the living God, who still dwells among us, and run to Him. He is waiting with open arms and His mercy is endless. "Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you."~Isaiah 54:10, 14-15
In fact, God loves all of us so much, that He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. He even died a most horrible and murderous death on a cross for all human beings, not just a select few. It was Good Friday that day too.
Good Friday is about love and not hate.
In fact, there was a robber who was crucified right next to Jesus who was forgiven during his dying moments because he had faith in God's son, the Redeemer of the world. When the robber cried out "Jesus, remember me, when you come into my kingdom, " Jesus cried: "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) The robber's faith set him free. Even though you have 20 more years in prison, your soul can still find freedom...
While He hung dying on the Cross that Good Friday, Jesus also forgave his own murderers before he died, exclaiming: "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) He knew they could not possibly know what they were doing...If only they believed!
It is here at the foot of the Cross where I find truth and meaning. God speaks to us there as we all bear our own crosses in this life. His loving gaze sustains us as He suffered just like we do in all things but sin. He wants us all to be happy with Him forever. There is no other love greater than His.
Believing this with all of my heart, I forgive you.
Believing this with all of my soul, I love you.
Life did not end on that Good Friday 2000 years ago or on that Good Friday 20 years ago.
Life begins on Good Friday because it ends with Easter Sunday.
Christ rose from the dead to prove life...An Eternal life that is free for the choosing.
On this Good Friday, I am praying you will seek and find Him.
On this Good Friday, I am trying to begin again.
On this Good Friday, I hope you will too.
Life, not death, has the last word.
Love wins.
Peace be with you,
Tiffany
"Christ himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24
