This little girl's grasp on forgiveness is very encouraging to me. (A Voice of the Martyrs email)
ELEVEN YEAR OLD MARYAM: TESTIMONY OF A YOUNG IRAQI REFUGEE
August 21, 2015
Dear Friends:
The spiritual maturity of eleven-year-old Maryam is astounding. She has been through 0more in her short life than many adults in their entire lifetime.
Maryam is one of thousands of Iraqi Christians forced to flee from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS), now living as a refugee. "I won't do anything to them, I will only ask God to forgive them." This is how Maryam responded when a SAT-7Arabic reporter asked her what her feelings were towards ISIS for driving her family out of their home. Maryam also said, "In the Bible Jesus said to us, 'Don't be afraid, I am with you.' And also, He said forgive others no matter who they are hating you. You have to forgive them."
“…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
