Mother forgives son’s killer
HERE is apoignant story of forgiveness written by Leslie Lin which happened in Taiwan. It’s an illustrative lesson of today’s gospel on Jesus’ difficult teaching to love one’s enemy.
It was December 24, 2000, 17-yearold Teng De had planned to go to a barbeque party with his cousin. But he finished work late.
“You need to be punished for being so late,” said Teng De’s friends who met them. They made him do ten push-ups.
** * A group of boys from the other end of the field saw Teng De finishing his push-ups and thought he was provoking them. They approached Teng De’s group and demanded an apology.
In an instant, the two groups started fighting. A 15-year-old Yang grabbed a fruit knife and stabbed Teng De in the chest.
** * When the boys realized what had happened, they fled. It was too late for Teng De. With his last breath, he told his cousin to hand his salary to his mother. When Lin You, mother of Teng, heard about the tragic death, she said, “It was as if I was struck by a lightning. The news was so crushing that I passed out on the spot.”
** * After several days, Lin You in deep mourning and hatred filed a case in court. When she first saw Yang arraigned, she couldn’t believe the boy who stood in front of her could be so brutal. During that dark period, she wanted to kill everyone responsible. On several occasions, she had secretly hidden a knife in her bag when she went to court.
** * It was when she started stalking Yang’s parents that she saw Yang’s mother selling magnolias amidst the bustling traffic.
His father, whose hand had been amputated in a car accident, was using his good arm to sell flowers. They were doing this to pay the court-ordered compensation.
In that moment, Lin felt empathy – Yang’s parents were as poor as she was.
* * * “Even if I were to kill [Yang], it wouldn’t bring back my son. And my hatred would cause another family to suffer.” After three years, Lin finally decided to visit Yang in prison. “Mrs. You, can I hug you?” Yang asked.
Lin nodded. Yang hugged her tightly as pent up emotions gave way to uncontrollable sobbing. “I’m sorry. I was wrong,” Yang said over and over again. His words unlocked the chains of hatred and misery that had bound Lin’s heart for so long.
* * * Two days after Lin’s visit to Yang, the young man wrote his first letter to her. The act marked the beginning of a special and treasured relationship with Lin.
After six years in correctional school, Yang was released on parole. He had planned to find a job but Lin advised him to go back to school and learn a skill.
* * * Many of her friends and family could not understand why she forgave Yang. “I didn’t regret my choice to forgive,” she said firmly. “While I have lost my son, I don’t want my hatred to cause another child, stricken with guilt, to be led astray.” She believes that people who have made mistakes can still contribute to society if given a chance.
She said, “When God closed a door on me, he opened this window.”
* * * GOD BLESS — the latest donors to Adopt a Seminarian scholarship program: JESS-BENG YAO, EMMA RAMOS, LENI LAZARO, NORA ABDALA. * * * Others who want to help may inquire at: belsvd@gmail.com. * * * Let’s support our seminarians. We cannot have priests, bishops and popes without them.