Forgiveness: The Nickle Mines Tragedy

Forgiveness: The Nickle Mines Tragedy

In the days following this tragedy, the Amish people demonstrated the type of grace and love that Jesus taught us about.

In October of 2006 the Amish people demonstrated how forgiving humans can be.  They showed forgiveness to a shooter of ten of their children.  

On October 2, 2006 in Nickle Mines, Pennsylvania, a thirty two year old, non Amish milk man, named Charles Roberts, IV entered a one room school house and shot ten young Amish girls.  Five of the girls died and five were seriously injured.  In the days following this tragedy, the Amish people demonstrated the type of grace and love that Jesus taught us about.  They embraced the shooter’s family.  On the night of the tragedy an Amish neighbor of the assassin’s parents, named Henry, came to their house.  He said to the shooter’s father “Roberts, we love you” and then comforted him for nearly an hour.   The Amish community attended Roberts’ funeral, hugged his wife and family.  They donated money to his widow and three young children. 

The story does not end there.  Terri Roberts, the shooter’s mother has developed a relationship with the surviving victims.  She has invited them to her house and now on most Thursday evenings helps care for the most seriously injured survivor. 

This post demonstrates for us the ultimate in forgiveness and love.  Here a man took the children yet the families of his victims embraced his family.