Lessons of forgiveness from Les Miserables

I was recently fortunate enough see the stage show of Les Miserables in London, as well as the film. Anyone else who has seen it will probably agree with me that it is a great story & takes you on an emotional roller-coaster that never seems to end.  I have to say I felt a little worn out by the end of it; but in a good kind of way!

BACKGROUND:  For those not knowing the story, it is set in post-revolutionary France, where the main character, Jean Valjean, is released from prison after 19 years (was sentenced for stealing bread for his family to survive!).  He breaks parole to create a new life for himself, now a respected man (although secretly a man on the run), helps a working class girl in her hour of sickness & death and promises to look after her illegitimate daughter, Cosette, for the rest of his days. 

The most poignant part of the story to me however, was when Jean Valjean was first released from prison, desperate for food & shelter, he finds comfort at an Abbey.  The Bishop welcomes him in and gives him food and shows him compassion.  Unfortunately, Jean Valjean decides to leave the Abby during the night but before doing so, steals numerous items of silver.  He is later found by the authorities, unbelievably however, the Bishop decides to show even more compassion by saying the silver had been given to Jean Valjean as a gift and gave him another 2 candle sticks for good measure!  

Wow....what kindness, what forgiveness.  Even though completely guilty, the Bishop let him go free and was willing to give him a second chance at life.  What a wonderful man, this act of kindness caused Jean Valjean to change his ways and become an honest, good man.  He later went on to save a beautiful little girl Cosette, who would have certainly died in that era of history without anyone providing for her!  

This film also gives you a sense of the real hardships people had to endure; we are all guilty of thinking our lives are difficult, and I'm not saying life isn't hard at times through money & relationship problems, however this is nothing compared with some of the things these people had to face during this period in history; hunger, seeing your own children starve or die of disease, poverty, sickness & war (sadly still seen in some parts of our world).

What can be learnt from the story:

1. One act of kindness can make such a difference - someone's life can be turned around.
2. It's right to forgive, even if we have been wronged - that's not easy!
3. Be grateful for everything we have, our freedom, food, homes etc.  Times are good even if we don't realise it.

Finally, this caused me to look at the ultimate act of forgiveness we received from God when he sent His Son, Jesus to the world.  We don't deserve God's love but through Jesus we can receive it, even when we have done wrong.  Jesus died on the cross, it was God's ultimate signature of love for all mankind.

Bible Readings:
Matt 18, v21-22  Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 

John 3, v16  For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son Jesus, that we shall not die but have eternal life.  

Rom 5, v8  But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Hope you have found this of some encouragement to you today.

Love Caroline x