Read these stories of forgiveness from people who have earned the right to talk about overcoming hurt, and about the peace of mind they have found in doing so.
In Why Forgive? Arnold avoids glib pronouncements by letting the untidy experiences of ordinary people speak for themselves – people who have earned the right to talk about overcoming hurt, and about the peace of mind they have found in doing so. "Hurt" is an understatement, actually, for these stories deal with the harrowing effects of violent crime, betrayal, abuse, bigotry, gang warfare, and genocide. But Why Forgive? examines life's more mundane battle scars as well: the wounds caused by backbiting, gossip, strained family ties, marriages gone cold and tensions in the workplace. As in life, not every story has a happy ending – a fact Arnold refuses to skirt. The book also addresses the difficulty of forgiving oneself, the futility of blaming God, and the turmoil of those who simply cannot forgive, even though they try.
Twelve years ago, Why Forgive? appeared in bookstores under the title "Seventy Times Seven" – a reference to Jesus’s advice on how many times we should be ready to forgive in one day. Today, translated into more than 20 languages, this modest but compelling volume of true stories has been reprinted hundreds of times, and sold or distributed to audiences around the world.
Why Forgive? Read these stories, and decide for yourself.
Also available, a free study guide to facilitate group discussion or personal study.
Softcover, 5.375 x 7.5
ISBN: 978-0874869422
View Table of ContentsI once heard a quote that the hallmark of a successful marriage was two good forgivers. Your chapter, "Forgiveness and Marriage" really struck a chord in me as it resonated this quote that I haven't really reflected on after I heard it....I thought of how being a good forgiver is also important in the mother-daughter relationship. This relationship is almost as intimate as marriage so it requires being vulnerable, humble and forgiving...
I put the books out for a group of men from a local substance abuse rehabilitation center who had come to a training that I was offering on recovery coaching. Every man that took a book actually began to read it throughout the week that they attended the training. All the men wanted their families to read the book hoping that they would be forgiven for their poor behavior. Thank you for your wonderful book that was a rich addition to our training. I offer this training to many people in recovery and would like to be able to offer the book to their family members too.
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