Gladys Staines and her Certainty..!

A few months ago I watched the movie, ‘The Least of These,’ I’m not going to talk about the movie here, but what it brought back to me, was my meeting with Gladys Staines, just after the gruesome murder of her husband and her two little sons. Even as she spoke to me, a vein on her forehead throbbed and I wondered whether any mother could live with the scene of two little ones, Philip aged ten and Timothy aged six, and her beloved Graham roasted alive?
“How?” I asked, “Could you forgive the murderer?”
She looked at me and suddenly there was calm, “Why not?” she asked.
It’s a question that’s troubled me no end, these last twenty years. Do I forgive because the Bible says I have to? Do I forgive because I’m scared God will bear down heavily on me if I don’t?
I’m sure there are many who try to do so, for such reasons, but the calm I felt around her, came from a heart that did not carry the burden of anger or revenge.
So why did she forgive?
I believe that the day, it dawns on us our life here is temporary, and that what matters is the eternal life promised for us, we realize the worst here doesn’t matter.
I believe also in the words of that beautiful song which at a funeral had me shed tears not of sorrow but of joy as a choir and finally everyone round the grave sang with gusto filled with hope and certainty:

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days.

Yes, she misses Graham and her beloved boys, but she knows she will meet them on that beautiful shore! Three score years and ten, and quite often a score or more are given to us for staying in this abode called earth, and in that time, whatever the circumstances, whatever our trials, our duty is to draw people even murderers to God, because that’s the sole reason He has put us here!
And then, like Gladys knew, comes an eternity of joy..!

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8 thoughts on “Gladys Staines and her Certainty..!”

  1. What a timely reminder of a lady who lives life here on earth , with an eternal perspective . May a powerful message of trust in a God of Grace touch the lives of many readers today

  2. The incident is fresh in our minds and the lesson taught by the courageous mother. It’s a reminder to reach that home where there will be no more tears and sorrow. Forgiveness the golden ?️?️?️.

  3. Gladys Staines visited my Book stall, at the International Book Exhibition , my wife & me just couldn’t believe meeting a brave & humble servant of God.Her precious words still keep ringing in our ears.
    “Keep looking to JESUS”

  4. Gladys Staines truly had tremendous courage and FAITH. A very brave and courageous woman indeed and I /we have much to learn from her…..

  5. Gladys Staines is the living example of one who has proved that there is Joy in forgiveness.
    A humble and extremely brave and selfless act indeed. She has undoubtedly received Devine Mercy for her understanding of true forgiveness .

  6. Thank you for reminding us of the power of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent as He promised to His followers while going back to His kingdom, to strengthen us, obey Him and love as He loved. It’s not possible to forgive as He did and told us to in our own steam. Gladys set an example to her daughter to walk in the narrow way as it leads to His home that’s reached with the fruit of the Holy Spirit seen in our service to mankind with sacrificial love.A broken grain that falls to the earth and dies produces growth, God’sWord promises. With that faith, Gladys reflects the Living Lord, in whose image humankind is made

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