Encouragement

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When Forgiveness Really Counts
© 2008

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Four months after returning home from Iraq, Army Specialist Brian Crow spent a great deal of his free time fixing up a 1956 Ford Mustang he called “The Tank”. He tuned the engine until it could barely be heard above a whisper, and he polished the body as though it was a fine, ancient museum piece.

Within a week after he had put the final coat of polish on the car, it was sideswiped by a criminal attempting to outrun the police in a high speed chase. Luckily, Brian was not in the car, but it was judged a total wreck by two insurance adjusters.

Brian, however, did not think the car was a total wreck. As far as he was concerned, it was still a beautiful car that could easily be restored. So, instead of letting the car just sit in his driveway and rust away or attempt to sale it for junk, he decided to cut away the damaged parts, find parts in a junkyard and weld them onto the good parts.

Most of Brian’s friends had their doubts about his decision to take on such a project. “Why spend all that money, time and effort restoring what was left of a car?” asked one of his Army buddies. “Why not just take the money the insurance company is ready to give your and buy another old car?”

Brian said, “When I get through welding the replacement parts to the damaged parts the car will be stronger than the parts that were built in the factory. A good weld is stronger than the metal it joins. Just wait you guys. You’ll see what I’m talking about.”

Will, Brian’s friends did see. His car held up perfectly. What he told them turned out to be true. A good weld is stronger than the materials it joins. For one of Brian’s friends, Sergeant Mack, “it’s about having a good weld” has become his motto whenever he discusses toughness and the building of relationships to other members of his unit.

So whenever you have a disagreement or falling out with a family member or friend, think of this period as “welding time”—a time to rebuilt and forgive. Because forgiveness creates a stronger bond that nothing will be able to destroy!

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