FORGIVENESS WALKING THROUGH THE “VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH”
By Anna Hurst
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“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” Ephesians 4:31-32, NIV n April 19, 1995, bitterness, rage and anger became a fierce reality in Kathy Sanders’ life. On that day, Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh, also known as the Oklahoma City bombers, left the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in a heap of destruction, with 168 people dead, including Sanders’ two grandsons, Chase and Colton.
Forgiveness: a PROCESS In a fast-paced world where people want their wounds to heal as quickly as they were inflicted, Sanders learned that “forgiveness is not an event; it’s a process.” “I didn’t just wake up one day and think, ‘You know what? This would be a good day to forgive Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh,’” she stated.
Growing up in a Christian home, Sanders was no stranger to the word “forgiveness.” However, the massacre of her precious grandchildren challenged her faith. The question, “How does a loving God let such a tragedy happen?” bombarded her mind, leaving minimal space for forgiveness in her heart. “I often thought about Jesus’ command to forgive and how He was surely asking for too much,” Sanders said, reflecting on the months following the bombing. “I would ultimately realize that while commanding me to forgive others, Christ wasn’t trying to bully me. He was trying to better me and bring me peace.”
After months of battling with depression and suicidal thoughts, she heard the words of John Walsh, host of “America’s Most Wanted”: “You will grieve, and you will grieve deeply, but you will survive!” His words inspired her to choose life, take it step-by-step and begin the slow process toward healing. While she did not know how or what to say, her first step was simply praying for her enemies.
reflects on the lives of her KATHY grandsons who were killed in the SANDERS 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing.
Sanders’ slow realization of the true value of forgiveness would set her apart from the majority of the nation. The lessons she learned as a result of her willingness to forgive are universally applicable and relevant to all situations. 1818
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“I don’t know what my prayer for Nichols and McVeigh did for them, but I know what it did for me; from there, it just seemed natural,” she explained. “What would Jesus do? What does He expect of us? He loves us all. Are we to pick and choose? I found that forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.”
Sanders began to personally establish relationships with the perpetrators and their families – a decision that fostered negative