Episode 119: Their Forgiveness of Him Freed Me

This week on To Help You Heal, I’m sharing one of the most significant stories of my life—the forgiveness I experienced from the Amish community in the aftermath of the schoolhouse shooting. On the very day of the tragedy, members of the Amish community walked to my parents’ home. I’ll never forget watching them arrive, unsure of what they might say. Instead of judgment, they came with compassion. They wanted me to know they had forgiven Charlie and were extending grace to my family. That moment—and the many that followed, including at Charlie’s funeral when they literally shielded us from the media—forever changed how I understand forgiveness. It’s not just a private decision we make inside. True forgiveness carries grace. It releases us from the weight we can’t hold and often moves us to action. In this episode, I also clear up a common misconception: while the movie Amish Grace introduced many people to the idea of Amish forgiveness, it is not an accurate portrayal of my story or the depth of grace I actually experienced. What I lived was far more profound than any script could capture. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse wrongdoing or erase pain—but it brings freedom. The Amish showed me that even in the darkest places, God’s grace can create light. And if He helped us forgive Charlie, He can help you forgive in your own story too.   As you listen, I invite you to reflect: Where might you need the freedom forgiveness brings? What step could you take to begin releasing the weight you’ve been carrying? I pray this story shapes you as much as it shaped me.