When Georgia high school teacher and coach Jason Hughes was accidentally struck and killed by a vehicle during a friendly and expected student prank, the world recognized it as a tragedy for all who were involved. But few would have expected the grace-filled, though heartbreaking, response of Hughes’ widow, Laura. In a statement, she and her family said: “We are thankful for the outpouring of prayers and support as we grieve the loss of Jason. We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident, along with their families. Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us.”
That expression of grace was a Biblical response. Jesus Christ taught His followers to pray “… and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12), adding, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).
The world may not understand such an act of forgiveness, but no one can deny its power. Seeing a believer forgive someone for a hurt or a wrong can cause people to consider God’s offer of forgiveness for our sins if we will turn to Him in repentance and faith.
The Hughes family’s response made a remarkable impact in the community, say people in Gainesville, the northeast Georgia town where the tragedy occurred.
“It has been unbelievable,” said Kevin Woody, pastor of Celebration Church. “It has really impacted a lot of folks, to be able to see the mission of God in their lives, and that their love for the Lord and for those students was so great.”
Woody’s daughter Bella, a junior at the school, saw the difference it made among fellow students. “So many students were just praying together and lifting each other up,” she said, adding that the situation has made her more determined to show Christ’s love to others. “Just knowing that Coach Hughes is in Heaven right now, knowing that we need to fulfill his legacy, going out and sharing the Gospel with others. And showing love, like he would, and trying to make an impact because we don’t know when our last days are.”
The Hughes family’s statement expressed love and grace while explaining more about the school’s longstanding “junior-senior war” tradition and what happened on the night of Jason’s death. They wanted people to know that there was no malicious intent on anyone’s part.
“Jason knew the students were coming and he was excited and waiting to ‘catch them’ in the act. It had been raining and he accidentally slipped and fell into the road in front of the vehicle as they were driving away and was hit. The students immediately tried to provide aid until paramedics arrived. Jason loved these students and they loved him too. Our family fully supports getting the charges dropped for all involved. This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students. This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
In light of the evidence and the family’s wishes, all charges were soon dropped.
Why does forgiveness make such a powerful impact?
“Because carnal man can’t do it,” Kevin Woody said. “It is only produced by the Spirit of God. The carnal man would be angry and upset at the loss. But the spiritual person, the born-again believer, recognizes the spiritual side of this.
“There’s not one kid at North Hall High School who has not noticed that this woman is a believer who is solid in her faith. … Everybody in this community, especially the young people, saw what real Christianity is all about. It’s a great demonstration of the truth of the Gospel.”
Pastor Anthony Thompson
Through the ages and around the world, there have been many expressions of forgiveness by Christians to others, and as the world has noticed and marveled, some lives have been changed for eternity.
In Charleston, South Carolina, after white supremacist Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people in 2015, during a Bible study at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the world heard another incredible expression of grace. In that case, the killing had been intentional; the shooter went so far as to say, “I am not sorry. I have not shed a tear for the innocent people I killed.”
But when Anthony Thompson, whose wife, Myra, was one of the deceased, addressed the court two days after the shooting, he obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit when he said, “I forgive you, and my family forgives you.” He added, “Dylann, repent, confess … give your life to Jesus Christ, so that He can change it.”
The Washington Post reported that “One by one, those who chose to speak … offered [Roof] forgiveness … even as they described the pain of their losses.”
As reported last June in a Decision article by Denise George, Marshall Blalock, pastor of Charleston’s First Baptist Church, stated: “No one could deny the power of grace, the power of forgiveness, and the miracle of living out God’s grace when everyone expected justifiable vengeance. No one will ever forget this moment.”
Gladys Staines
On Jan. 23, 1999, in the state of Odisha, India, missionary Graham Staines and his sons, Philip, 10, and Timothy, 8, were sleeping in a vehicle after conducting open-air meetings in a village. A militant group doused their vehicle with gasoline, set it ablaze and then prevented Staines and his sons from getting out.
The horrific killings garnered worldwide attention. But again, it was an expression of forgiveness that made the biggest impact. Staines’ widow, Gladys, told Decision: “When I was explaining to my daughter that Graham and the boys had been killed, we agreed that we would forgive those who did it. And I can say from my own experience that forgiveness brings healing.
“I’ve heard many stories of people who have come to Christ after seeing the way that I have accepted it all. I heard a story from someone in a neighboring state who was distributing tracts. One man who received a tract asked, ‘Is this the same Jesus that [Gladys Staines] believes in?’ ‘Yes,’ the Christian said.
“The man replied, ‘I want to know that Jesus.’”
Corrie ten Boom
During World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her family hid Jewish people from the Nazis and helped them escape to freedom. The family was caught when a man came to their door claiming that his wife had been arrested, and he was afraid she would be killed. He asked Corrie for money to pay a police officer who had agreed to help rescue the woman.
Corrie gathered all the money she had, along with money from friends, and gave it to the man. But he was a Nazi informant, and after he left, the Gestapo stormed the house, arrested the family and sent them to concentration camps, which only Corrie and her brother survived.
Corrie did not know the betrayer, but she felt hatred for him. While she was in one of the camps, she discovered the man’s identity, and after the war, she heard that the man was sentenced to death. By then, God had softened her heart. She wrote him a letter and said, “What you have done has meant the death of four of my family. I have suffered much, in three prisons. But I have forgiven you. And that is because God’s love is in my heart through Jesus Christ.”
The man wrote back, “That you could forgive me is such a miracle that I said, ‘Jesus, when You give such forgiveness and love in the hearts of Your followers, there is hope for me.’ And I have received Jesus as my Savior.”
That is the power of forgiveness.
