As some of you may know/remember I suffered a home invasion while a friend of over a decade of both mine and my late wife's was over with her 3 year old daughter, when the robber took her at knife point and made her tie me up while he ransacked my house for basically all I had.
Well as of Wednesday the police made an arrest. Actually they made two. The robber and my "friend". Turns out she planned the whole thing. She used her child as a prop for the robbery, masterminded the whole lot, and the robber turns out to be her boyfriend (while telling me she was single the whole time).
I haven't had word on what was stolen being recovered yet. I can only hope the sentimental family items like my wife's jewellery will be at a minimum. Everything else I've basically replaced already.
She confessed to it too. She's now facing a robbery charge and conspiracy to torture as well, and will likely get at least few years jail time as a first time offender. Her boyfriend is getting far more time as a repeat offender.
And now I'm in a quandary. As a Christian I remember the Lord's prayer - "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us". I remember Christ's teachings - Let ye without sin cast the first stone. I like, all of us, are sinners in some way. And yet... The betrayal and perhaps worse, to expose a 3 year old girl to such malfeasance.... How do I forgive such evil being done to an innocent child? I report on far worse traumas, to be sure, but to experience the same is a shock and a half. Part of me beginning to wonder if God has taken plotlines from Guy Richie of late when it comes to my life, and to see the act she pulled on the day... Let's just say she deserved an emmy or an Oscar.
Still, justice is coming for those that took advantage of my kindness and consideration and tried to use it to their own gain. The woman who did this has destroyed her own life effectively beyond anything I could do to her as vengeance. Her ex will likely take her daughter from her, which was purportedly her greatest fear (or that was what she told me, now I think it was all lies of course). Her son, an absolute star of a lad, now has to live knowing his mother is basically capable of such evil.
The Lord moves in mysterious ways and helped me dodge a lethal bullet this time.
Only a few years in prison? Fuck that, tell them she wasn't wearing a mask and get her sentenced for life.
kek
Wow. Just from this I'd think the father is probably a good guy. The son is fine, the daughter was going to be her tool until she could be a real accomplice. Naturally mom wouldn't want to let a property like that go. Your suffering may have in the end given both children a better chance. As to the "friend," forgiving doesn't require letting her hurt anyone ever again.
I'm sorry for the invasion, physical assault and betrayal. Give yourself time and space to recover, pardon yourself for unexpected emotions and suspicions that may seem less than what you expect of yourself.
Forgiveness is easy, because "they know not what they do." But forgiveness does not mean becoming a doormat, nor allowing yourself to be blind, nor to prevent just punishment. For if they are children in their understanding, sparing the rod of justice may do them more harm than good. If this happened to me, I might interpret it as God telling me that "loving my neighbor as myself" also means that shortchanging myself by sacrificing my well-being on behalf of others is denigrating my half of the equation, and I should look out for myself to a greater degree going forward.
Glad the truth is known.
Mr_A, I think this is very good advice for all of us living in this period in time. And Lupinate, I am so sorry this happened to you, but I am glad you're seeing a measure of justice for those who have wronged you. This could be a new beginning for those two children, and I think that's the best possible outcome. God bless.
Wow, that's crazy. She deserves the punishment she got if not more. She betrayed your trust, and your wife is looking down from heaven in disbelief & shock I'm sure. That woman doesn't deserve to have custody of her kids, praying they will have a brighter future with whomever raises them.
As I read your first paragraph, in my mind I had a feeling she was involved because how many robberies have we seen where one of the victim is made to tie up their fellow victim ?
I am glad they have been caught. Forgiving is not for them, but for yourself. If you are not able to forgive her, it will fester inside you turning into an anger/resentment etc and eventually hurt your own soul.
Forgiving is also not the same as letting her get away unpunished. You have to do everything needed to ensure she gets the correct sentence and her child is taken by that child's father. You can do all that without resentment or anger, and purely out of compassion for that child and for all future victims of this person.
Remember, this "friend" is a very evil person and her reckoning will be with God.
These people are sociopaths taking advantage of a grieving soul. Sounds like you need new friends.
My other friends of mine were who got the police onto her in the end, unbeknownst to me at the time. I have some looking out for me still.
Not relevant to your story, but I thought from the post headline you meant the theft of the US presidential election.. talk about breaking news!
Sad when people involve their kids in crime, worse still when its a betrayal of people who you have known for a long time. Looking back with discernment, I bet you will see a pattern of incidents and indicators with her that didn't make sense at the time.. but now do.
I hope she has the time to reflect and dig herself out of the hole shes in.
I am so sorry this happened to you. It really made me think of Judas, who betrayed his friend Jesus and we know that forgiveness was available to Judas but because he couldn't forgive himself he committed suicide. Forgiveness is available to these people because of the blood of Jesus Christ. The forgiveness you give is a gift to you really, to free you from any bitterness or hatred that would impede your walk with the Lord. AND forgiveness has nothing to do with the legal punishment for criminal activity.
The Lord works in very mysterious ways and it will be interesting to see what becomes of all this. Bless you for all your continued posting about child trafficking. It is important work and you are an important voice in this community.
Keep watching critically for God's work in these weird circumstances. Ask him to allow you to see it.
When you see it, write it down to go back to later. God is wonderful at giving growth opportunities. I can attest.
Very weird circumstances you describe. Watch closely for God's work through it. Spiritual battles may be occurring. (My Morning Bible Read today was Daniel 10 and it described Daniel fasting and praying for three weeks while waiting for Gabriel who was detained in a spiritual battle until Michael assisted. I absolutely loved Daniel 10:18.)
You're allowed to be angry. When you can forgive is after you heal, and that will take time. That's not violating our Christian faith. That just means we hand it over to God to forgive. Put God in charge of your burden.
She broke many, many commandments that day. What could drive a person to such malice? I pray that you find out why she committed such sin against you, but remember that Judgement is the Lord's. What, then, is available to you?
Ask the Lord for guidance and ensure that the children can still have a bright future.