If it was your intention to counter-balance the hubris of the failed parade-to-one this weekend, you have thoroughly succeeded by relying on the stories of those who draw their strength from their vulnerability, their peace and endurance from the simplicity of their lives, and the openness of their hearts. And the contrast, in effect and in reality, could not be more stark. We have a "leader" who is literally obsessed with "settling scores" - most of which exist only in his mind - by cruelly punishing the "scum" who attempted merely to hold him accountable. And such is what our world has become. Your stories of courage in the face of unspeakable suffering, or simple daily injustice, take the edge off indignity and restore a sense of calm for everyone, at least for a moment, and I appreciate them.
Yes, I'm reading the Sermon on the Mount now, about forgiveness, and I'm even trying to forgive my brother for cheating me out of most of my inheritance. I don't know if I can take action to do it, but I'm trying.
Thank for the amazing Father's Day story. I feel a connection with Tesfai in that I grew up in Sudan and went to a bording school in Addis Ababa in the mid 50s. The more important connection though is that, as humans, we must wrestle with our tendancy to want revenge for deep wrongs done to us. The beauty of the story, for me is that Tesfai gained freedom from bondage to the wrongs done, through forgiveness. What a powerful lesson - the way to build peace in our troubled world.
Thank you for sharing this story of a man’s fight for freedom and the almost-out-of-reach dream to come to America. Another of so many immigrant stories. Our country is great because of immigrants.
And now Trump isn’t even letting Eritreans into the U.S. Here in Oakland, California, I interact every day with people from Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran, and, yes, Eritrea and their warmth and graciousness enriches my life. I am not able to forgive Trump and his criminal gang for what they are doing to immigrants and also to my vision of America.
Someone, at least, has learned what it really means to follow Jesus. Now about these MAGA morons! They clearly haven't read the New Testament! I am an atheist, but I have deep admiration for the people who actually live their faith. To forgive takes a great deal of self-understanding. This is a story about that ability and a man who took the high road. Beautiful story.
A couple of years ago I was channel surfing when I came upon a televised “court” show just as a father whose son had been murdered was preparing to give a “victim statement”. I was expecting to hear expressions of angst, rage, anger and a strong desire for state sanctioned “revenge”. What I witnessed was definitely not what I expected.
This father who, if I remember correctly was Muslim, started his statement by describing his son and how much he was loved and would be missed by his family. His voice was steady, calm and in a strange sort of way, reassuring. He stated he did not know the life story of the young man who had killed his son, but noted that with his being sentenced to life in prison another mother had lost her son. He then asked the judge if he could hug the defendant and let him know he was forgiven. You could have heard a pin drop in that courtroom. The judge seemed somewhat flustered but said he could approach the defendant IF the defendant agreed.
As the father approached the defendant he held his arms open only to have the young man collapse sobbing into his outstretched arms. I doubt that there was a dry eye in the entire courtroom. Once the defendant was seated back with his lawyer, the father turned again to him and told him HIS mother would be helped in every way possible to deal with her loss by the family whose son had been murdered.
In my opinion if there was ever a father who deserved to be honored it was THIS father, and I find myself wondering if the defendant’s life would have turned out so much better had he been blessed with a father like this amazing man speaking from his heart while making of all things a victim statement!
I’m weeping as I read. As a Christian, i struggle to forgive what little has happened to me. Bless this man’s heart and life in our country. We are honored to have him.
Thank you for this. I donated to your campaign multiple times. Missouri truly made a mistake. So glad you’re here though.
A massive mistake, considering whom they elected instead.
If it was your intention to counter-balance the hubris of the failed parade-to-one this weekend, you have thoroughly succeeded by relying on the stories of those who draw their strength from their vulnerability, their peace and endurance from the simplicity of their lives, and the openness of their hearts. And the contrast, in effect and in reality, could not be more stark. We have a "leader" who is literally obsessed with "settling scores" - most of which exist only in his mind - by cruelly punishing the "scum" who attempted merely to hold him accountable. And such is what our world has become. Your stories of courage in the face of unspeakable suffering, or simple daily injustice, take the edge off indignity and restore a sense of calm for everyone, at least for a moment, and I appreciate them.
Wow! What a story!! We just don’t realize how others have suffered to get here! Thx for sharing.
A beautiful story. Simply beautiful. Thanks for re-posting this.
A lesson too many still need to learn. Jesus forgave us and we should learn to do the same.
Yes, I'm reading the Sermon on the Mount now, about forgiveness, and I'm even trying to forgive my brother for cheating me out of most of my inheritance. I don't know if I can take action to do it, but I'm trying.
Keep trying, at just the “ right “ time it’ll come to you ;). Prayers up,
This story needs to be shared in every evangelical Christian church in Missouri (and America for that matter).
Very moving. What happened to the man who vouched for Tesfai? Does he know?
We need stories of immigrants like this one every day in our media so people can really see that what ICE is doing is truly EVIL!
Thank for the amazing Father's Day story. I feel a connection with Tesfai in that I grew up in Sudan and went to a bording school in Addis Ababa in the mid 50s. The more important connection though is that, as humans, we must wrestle with our tendancy to want revenge for deep wrongs done to us. The beauty of the story, for me is that Tesfai gained freedom from bondage to the wrongs done, through forgiveness. What a powerful lesson - the way to build peace in our troubled world.
Thank you for sharing this story of a man’s fight for freedom and the almost-out-of-reach dream to come to America. Another of so many immigrant stories. Our country is great because of immigrants.
Great wisdom there, thanks for sharing.
And now Trump isn’t even letting Eritreans into the U.S. Here in Oakland, California, I interact every day with people from Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran, and, yes, Eritrea and their warmth and graciousness enriches my life. I am not able to forgive Trump and his criminal gang for what they are doing to immigrants and also to my vision of America.
An incredibly moving story. Thank you so much for sharing.
Someone, at least, has learned what it really means to follow Jesus. Now about these MAGA morons! They clearly haven't read the New Testament! I am an atheist, but I have deep admiration for the people who actually live their faith. To forgive takes a great deal of self-understanding. This is a story about that ability and a man who took the high road. Beautiful story.
A couple of years ago I was channel surfing when I came upon a televised “court” show just as a father whose son had been murdered was preparing to give a “victim statement”. I was expecting to hear expressions of angst, rage, anger and a strong desire for state sanctioned “revenge”. What I witnessed was definitely not what I expected.
This father who, if I remember correctly was Muslim, started his statement by describing his son and how much he was loved and would be missed by his family. His voice was steady, calm and in a strange sort of way, reassuring. He stated he did not know the life story of the young man who had killed his son, but noted that with his being sentenced to life in prison another mother had lost her son. He then asked the judge if he could hug the defendant and let him know he was forgiven. You could have heard a pin drop in that courtroom. The judge seemed somewhat flustered but said he could approach the defendant IF the defendant agreed.
As the father approached the defendant he held his arms open only to have the young man collapse sobbing into his outstretched arms. I doubt that there was a dry eye in the entire courtroom. Once the defendant was seated back with his lawyer, the father turned again to him and told him HIS mother would be helped in every way possible to deal with her loss by the family whose son had been murdered.
In my opinion if there was ever a father who deserved to be honored it was THIS father, and I find myself wondering if the defendant’s life would have turned out so much better had he been blessed with a father like this amazing man speaking from his heart while making of all things a victim statement!
What a beautiful story
I’m weeping as I read. As a Christian, i struggle to forgive what little has happened to me. Bless this man’s heart and life in our country. We are honored to have him.