The Book of Forgiving by Desmond M. Tutu and Mpho A. Tutu (his daughter)
Bishop Tutu and his daughter both contributed to this book and they wrote about first hand accounts resulting from apartheid South Africa where at one time only whit people could vote, earn high-quality education, and expect advancement or opportunity. Desmond Tutu was appointed by President Mandela to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
This book has some very rich advice and a path forward with regards to overcoming racism, hate, revenge, and inequality that was institutionalized in the country of South Africa. What was the path forward? How was this achieved?
1. Telling the story
2. Naming the hurt.
3. Gathering Forgiveness
4. Renewing or Releasing the relationship
It may sound simple but when it comes down to it, this might be one of the hardest things to accomplish. I recall one account in the book where two individuals that were brother and sister wanted to find out who killed their father so that they could forgive them. They wanted to forgive the murder. They did not seek revenge or any kind of fairness, they just wanted to forgive the one who took their father away from them. WOW!
Some of the accounts that they shared broke my heart and really had me thinking and h=shaking my head. I could not believe what I read. I will apply MUCH of what was shared because it was really great, sound advice. God is so good, I know that if there was a way to present this on a large scale, we would see major improvements in society!
This book lays the ground work to success with regards to reconciliation and explains in detail how you can forgive and how forgiveness is not for the person who hurt you, it is more for you than for someone else.
Both the Bishop and his daughter did a wonderful job at explaining exactly how South Africa made a start at righting years and years of wrong, hate, injustice, and just plain hatred and evil.
The way forward is forgiveness, it will be hard at first and you may have to say: “I forgive you” one thousand times or more, but one day you will release the hate, hurt, pain and weight that comes from unforgiveness. It can be done.
Great Book!
Have a great day!
God Bless,
Linwood H Gordon
