Humility

In 1984 Ruth Pelke was stabbed to death by four teenage girls. She was was a 78 year old Bible teacher. The four girls were arrested. Three got long prison sentences. But the ringleader Paula Cooper got death. At the time this felt right to Bill Pelke, Ruth’s grandson. But 18 months later he changed his mind. He had seen the tears of Paula’s grandfather when her sentence was read out. It made no sense that after one family had suffered so much, another should begin to suffer too. More than this, Bill said he knew that Ruth would not have wanted it.
Bill began to look for ways to turn things around. He started by meeting Paula face to face. He hugged her and forgave her.

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