“Please, Lord. Please let this be his reply.” She settled into the rocking chair Mrs. Whipple from church had loaned her.

Leah devoured the first line: “My dear wife”—with wife underlined.

Relieved laughter welled up. He’d never addressed her that way. Always simply “Dear Leah.”

The next line read “I want to make one thing clear—I will never abandon you. I made vows to you and to our child, and I will never break them.”

“Thank you, Lord. Thank you.” With that security, she could bear any censure.

I admit your confession struck me, since my life has been altered by theft.

However, please don’t feel bad that you didn’t tell me you used to steal. You were young, it was long ago, and you’ve changed—so it was never any of my business. Seeing how Darlene and Mrs. Perry reacted, I don’t blame you for not telling me.

As for your past theft, there’s nothing for me to forgive. First, you did me no harm. Second, I understand why you stole things. Yes, it was wrong, but it stemmed from your compassionate heart that hates to see anyone or anything abandoned. That sweet empathy is one of your greatest strengths.

Third, it’s all in your past. In your youth! You’ve confessed and changed, and that isn’t who you are anymore. You told me when you could have easily kept silent. I admire your courage and integrity.

Thinking through this illuminated a dark area in my soul. When I first told you about my brothers, you said you could understand why I hadn’t forgiven them. I was taken aback, because I thought I had forgiven them.

You saw through my polite words. Although I’ve forgiven them on the surface, deep inside I still resent them.

It was easy to forgive you because there was no personal injury, I understood your motives, and you repented long ago.

Both Wyatt and Adler did cause me injury, and neither has repented. I understand Wyatt’s motives—he feared for his life and needed to get out of town. But I’ll never understand Adler’s motives. Sure, he was grieving Oralee, he was angry that I’d spoiled his revenge on Wyatt, and he was drunk, but to do what he did? I’ll never understand.

So Wyatt only meets one of my criteria, and Adler meets none.

However, my criteria don’t matter. Only God’s do.

Jesus didn’t say to forgive people only if you understand why they sinned. He didn’t say to forgive only if people are remorseful and they change.

He said to forgive, and he said not forgiving is a sin. So guess what, Leah? I’m a rotten sinner.