Why Forgive? Arnold allows the messy experiences of regular people—people who have earned the right to discuss forgiveness—to speak for themselves.
Violence, betrayal, abuse, hatred, gang warfare, and genocide are all topics covered in several of these stories. Others deal with commonplace injuries, such as those brought on by gossip, backbiting, domestic disputes, and stress at work. The book also addresses self-forgiveness, which might be the most difficult task.
These individuals may assist you in releasing the restorative potential of forgiveness in your own life because they have conquered the disease of resentment and anger. Read these tales and make your own judgement. Why Forgive?
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About the Author
As an award-winning author with over 1.3 million copies of his books in print in more than 20 languages, people have come to rely on his wise counsel. Senior pastor of the Bruderhof, a Christian community movement, Arnold is a well-known lecturer and author on marriage, parenting, and dying.
He has spent the last 40 years counselling thousands of people and families with his wife, Verena. Cries from the Heart, Be Not Afraid, Why Children Matter, Rich in Years, Their Name Is Today, and Why Forgive? are some of his novels.
Through his interactions with notable peacemakers like Mother Teresa, César Chavez, John Paul II, and Martin Luther King Jr., Arnold has formed his message. The Breaking the Cycle initiative was founded by Arnold and crippled police officer Steven McDonald, who worked with students at hundreds of public high schools to encourage forgiveness as a means of fostering reconciliation.
Additionally, this work has taken him to war areas in the Middle East, Rwanda, and Northern Ireland. He works as a chaplain for the local sheriff’s office, which is closer to home.
Arnold was born to German refugees in Britain in 1940, and after his parents sought safety in South America during the war, he spent his childhood there before moving to the US in 1955. He and his spouse have one great-grandchild, eight children, and forty-four grandchildren. Their residence is in upstate New York.
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Review
This book, which I read in high school, had such an influence on me that it is now worn and highlighted, among other things. I bought this for a friend who is also going through a difficult time, and I have forced both my husband and son to read it throughout difficult times in their life. These are strong words that ought to be spread.
Why Forgive? By allowing the messy experiences of regular people speak for themselves—those who have earned the right to talk about overcoming hurt and the peace of mind they have discovered in doing so—Arnold steers clear of facile assertions.
As these stories deal with the horrific consequences of violent crime, betrayal, cruelty, intolerance, gang warfare, and genocide, “hurt” is truly an understatement. However, Why Forgive? also explores the more commonplace battle scars in life, such as those brought on by backbiting, gossip, broken family bonds, failed marriages, and conflicts at work.
Arnold refuses to downplay the reality that not all stories have happy endings, just as in real life. The book also discusses the inability to forgive oneself, the pointlessness of blaming God, and the suffering of those who make an effort but are unable to forgive.
Why Forgive? was first published twelve years ago under the title “Seventy Times Seven” in bookshops, a reference to Jesus’s teaching on the number of times we should be prepared to forgive in a single day. This small but captivating collection of genuine stories has been translated into over 20 languages, reproduced hundreds of times, and sold to audiences worldwide.
Why Pardon? Make your own judgement after reading these tales.
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Summary
In summary, the significance of forgiveness in the process of personal recovery cannot be emphasised enough. It is a healing process that provides emotional and psychological liberation, enabling people to put their suffering behind them and welcome a future free from the lingering effects of their past.
Arnold highlights the undeniable advantages of incorporating forgiveness into one’s life by narrating significant incidents and providing convincing proof. Forgiveness not only heals our individual wounds but also creates the groundwork for a more sympathetic and understanding society.