On October 2, 2006, a gunman entered an Amish school in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, and killed five girls. Within hours, the Amish community visited the killer's family — to comfort them.
What Happened
The Amish came to the killer's widow with food and condolences. They raised money for his family. They attended his funeral. They publicly declared forgiveness.
Why
For the Amish, forgiveness isn't an emotion — it's a decision. They didn't 'feel' forgiveness — they chose to forgive because it's their faith. 'Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors' — they take this literally.
What It Means
Forgiveness doesn't mean approval. Doesn't mean forgetting. Doesn't mean absence of pain. It means: I refuse to carry hatred. Hatred destroys the one who hates, not the one who is hated.
Result
The community recovered. The school was demolished and rebuilt. Children attend school. Life continues. The killer's widow stayed in the area — the Amish accepted her. The world was stunned: how can you forgive that? The Amish answered: how can you not?