And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone so that your father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses
Mark 11:25
Forgiveness, its something we all struggle with. How can we let go of pain and hurt caused by others? Forgiveness is not just something you do for others it’s more something you do for yourself. Holding on to pain and anger only hurts you. Even though letting go of things from your past is hard its in your best interest. Forgiveness is the first step in the healing process to get on with your life. I would like to share a cold but heartwarming story with you about an act of forgiveness like no other.
February 18, 1949 Gary Leon Ridgway was born. He lived a life of inconceivable cruelty. His crimes started when he was in highschool and didn’t stop until he was captured in 2001. He murdered numerous women and girls in Washington state during the 1980’s and 90’s. Most of his victims were alleged to be prostitutes. He strangled women with his bare hands or used ligatures. After strangling his victims he would often dump their bodies in a wooded area near the Green River in Washington. This gave him the name “The Green River Killer”. He would often come back to the dump site to have sexual intercourse with the dead bodies. On November 30, 2001 Ridgway was leaving the Renton, Washington Kenworth Truck Factory where he worked. He was arrested for the murders of 4 women whose cases were linked to him through DNA evidence. As a part of a plea bargain he disclosed the whereabouts of the still missing women. He was spared the death penalty, and received life in prison without parole. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s Ridgway is believed to have murdered over 71 women near seattle and Tacoma Washington. His court statement later reported that he had killed so many women he had lost count. Victims were believed to be prostitutes or runaways picked up along the highway. After dumping his victims he often left them posed naked. He dumped 2 confirmed and 2 suspected victims in Portland, Oregon to try to confuse police. Most victims weren’t found until their bodies were only skeletons. Three victims still remained unidentified. Ridgway occasionally left chewed gum, cigarettes,and letters from other people linking is DNA to the crime scene. Ridgway didn’t become a suspect of the Green River killings until 1983. In 1984 he was required by law to take a polygraph test. Surprisingly he passed. It wasn’t until April of 87 police took hair and saliva samples which linked him to the murders. On Dec 18, 2003 Judge Richard Jones sentenced Ridgway to 48 life sentences without parole. Ridgway led prosecutors to 3 more bodies in 2003.
On August 16, 2003 a young 16 year old girl was found strangled,raped, and beaten. Her name was Linda Jane Rule. Her father stood in court and listened to the victims parents say how much they hated him for what he had done. One mother said “ Gary Ridgway does not deserve our mercy. He does not deserve to live. He deserves to rot in hell for the rest of his life” When it was time for Mr. Rule to speak on behalf of his daughter what he said was remarkable. “Mr. Ridgway, there are people here that hate you. I am not one of them. Even though you have made it difficult to live up to what i believe and that is what God says to do. That is Forgive. You are forgiven sir.” After Mr. Rule said what he had to say to the man who brutally murdered his daughter he quietly sat back down. The other victim’s family look astounded that he could forgive someone for killing his daughter, but Mr. Rule was at peace he wasn’t letting the pain of being angry hurt him anymore. He chose to not let Gary Ridgway to keep taking his happiness from him.
Forgiveness is what Jesus did for us on the cross. Even though we beat him, denied him, and crucified him he forgave us. Even if you’re not a christian forgiveness should still be apart of your life to help you let go of what is hurting you. Me personally i believe we are made in the image of God and he forgives us everyday therefore forgiveness dwells in our spirit. God’s love and forgiveness can penetrate even the blackest heart. Ridgway confessed to more confirmed murders than any other American serial killer , and Jesus died on the cross for him to forgive him just as much as he died for us.
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