Rosie M. Hill tried to forget her painful childhood, but to no avail. And ignoring it wasn't bliss. She grew up and started a family of her own, hoping to leave the past in the past, but she was gripped by unforgiveness-and she couldn't shake it.And then, one day, she was asked to teach a lesson on forgiveness at her church. But how could she?There are stacks of books on the topic of forgiveness. While other writers tend to focus on the spiritual aspects of it, or approach it from a scholarly, theological viewpoint, Hill has tackled the age-old theme from an all-of-the-above standpoint that also includes her fresh insight into the brain's role in the process.Rather than use her experience as a neurodiagnostic technologist to write in scientific language, she chooses to speak from a very personal perspective-beginning with her twelve-year-old self. Forgiving Them is her humble memoir, honestly relating her struggles to live a full life while burdened with anger toward the adults who should've loved and protected her as a child.In Forgiving Them, Hill takes readers on her journey toward forgiveness. She transparently shares her doubts and regrets, alongside her desperate prayers. Through telling her story, she offers readers a light that can illuminate their own path, inspired by the Word of God. Rather than a cut-and-dry list of to-dos, Hill shares her real-life experiences as examples of how God leads people in unique ways.For Hill, God led her to the fresh insight of how the connection between memory and emotion in the brain can play into the process of forgiveness.In her book, she recounts how, as a young girl, she couldn't clearly understand her family situation and how her feelings of hurt and confusion turned into anger and bitterness. But as an adult, she began to realize that her anger wasn't hurting the people who hurt her. Instead, it was only hurting her. Then God led her to use the power of the brain's memory and emotional centers to recreate the painful scenes from her past and change her thinking process. By transforming her perspective, could forgiveness finally become a real possibility for her?Forgiving Them honestly relates Hill's journey and tackles tough questions like, "How was I supposed to love and not hate?" and "How could I change the way I was thinking and feeling?" These questions are daunting, and the struggle to find answers takes courage and determination. Although it isn't easy, God promises to be present every step of the way. She writes,"If you are a Christian, you can follow His example; that's what it means to be Christ-like. You can look at each of your enemies-anyone who has hurt you-through the eyes of Christ. You can learn how to see the deception behind what they have done and realize that Jesus forgives. You and I have been forgiven for all our sins-every one-past, present, and future. And we have been commanded to forgive. Therefore, let us declare to God, 'I forgive them.'"She also writes that forgiveness is a process. When she was confronted with her need to forgive, it was up to her to choose to begin that process. Where did her choice lead her? How far has she come? Was she able to reconcile with the adults who had hurt her so badly?Do you feel trapped by bitterness and anger? Are you gripped by unforgiveness? Let the encouraging truth of Forgiving Them inspire you to engage with your past rather than run from it, to choose love over hate, and to start on the path of forgiveness. Are you ready to begin rewriting the script of your past?
