family members of amish girls killed monday in their one-room school in pennsylvania want younger relatives to forgive the gunman. according to cnn, a grandfather said, “we must not think evil of this man.”

that response floors me. i am amazed at that kind of compassion. i don’t think i would forgive someone who killed one of my family members. i just couldn’t do it. their faith is so strong that they know that if someone dies, it’s god’s plan. the grandfather said, “we’re going to have to pick up the pieces and keep going. a funeral to us is a much more important thing than the day of birth because we believe in the hereafter. the children are better off than their survivors.” i can only hope to have that kind of faith. i have to admire anyone who can forgive the person who kills his or her relatives. that’s a point i can only hope to reach.