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In 1942, the Japanese invaded the island of Java, Indonesia.

Some days later, they invaded our plantation.

Within days, we were told to leave for a concentration camp. A Japanese army truck collected us the next day. My father was separated from my family earlier in the war. No doubt he was killed by the Japanese.

For three and a half years, we were locked up and exposed to systematic starvation and the most inhumane and brutal treatment. Their cruelty was unimaginable.

As for me, my heart was filled with hatred for the perpetrators of my concentration camp experiences as a child of seven years. These included the murder of women and children.

Horrific

I saw a mother beaten to death in front of her little children. The children were inconsolable and unable to process that mummy would not ever wake up! Wake, wake up now, Mummy! Others separated them from the scene.

Eight-year-old boys were stood in the tropical sun for hours, in front of the guardhouse, and not allowed to move. Of the twelve, four remained standing, including me; two died of sunstroke and dehydration.

Their mothers could only watch, unable to come to their aid. When it was over, the mothers were called, received a hiding, and told to collect their boys and make them behave in future.

One fourteen-year-old boy thought he could escape from the camp. Soldiers followed in pursuit and brought him back. In the middle of the square of the camp, he was stripped naked, tied on the park bench and in front of all, who were made to watch, had a garden hose inserted up his anus.

Then, as his body bloated and his belly rose, a soldier jumped on him. His screams still resonate in my ears to this day. Mercifully, he died instantly.

The images of these scenes would never be erased from my memory.

Lifelong Burden

The effect triggered an angry hatred simmering just below the surface of my mind. In my ignorance, the effect of this hatred limited all my abilities, including my IQ, imagination, powers of observation, and ability to relate to siblings and socially.

All my life, I believed that these were normal limitations for all people. I did not know or realise how limiting of my innate talents and abilities unforgiveness caused.

Mercifully, what followed was my deliverance. I was literally set free!

One day, when I was 70 years old, I was suddenly overcome with the unbearable weight of the hatred I carried all these years.

God showed me that I should give up judging people by my “standards”.

Jesus Himself said that in human relations, there is no room for resentment or any sort of unforgiveness (Matthew 6:14). He stresses the point in the next verse:

“But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.”

Imagine God not forgiving you your trespasses (sins)!

A blunt warning and to the point. This statement really scared me!

Healing and New Life

On this birthday (70), I actually sat in my chair and said loudly that I forgave everybody and anybody any hurt I did to them and any hurt anyone ever did to me!

I even forgave those cruel Japanese soldiers who had tortured my friends and me in the prison camp. This forgiveness included anything or anybody I resented or even did not like.

The effect of this one action was dramatic and immediately life-changing.

I was healed of hate by the power of love. God’s love expressed through His Son Jesus, Who died on a cross to set me free from hate and sin.

John 3:16 puts it well,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”

Many years before, I had given my life to Christ. I believed in Jesus and had received salvation. My sins were forgiven, but I still carried that burden ofhate and unforgiveness. As I forgave, I was healed and set free.

The weight that fell off me was literally breathtaking. Now, suddenly, I was totally new and weightless. The loss was the weight of unforgiveness. A high drama! What a curse that turned out to be, and was for so many years.

Apart from a tremendous relief and freedom, I had an immediate clarity of thought; a lightness; a weightlessness; a humbler version of myself without illusions. A new life and new brightness of thinking and a better exemplar of humanity.

Choose Freedom

There is no doubt that forgiveness is a major key to a fulfilled and happy life. I also believe that unforgiveness is the cause of much unhappiness in the relationships of couples, families and the rest of the world.

There is also no doubt that when I forgave all, my life became what I always thought life should be like. I am still excited and walking on clouds 18 years later, all because I chose to forgive all.

Choice, not chance, determines your destiny!

The curse of unforgiveness is a terrible burden to carry. Christ carried it to the cross for us and left it there, and we should, too.

I was reminded of the statement of Corrie ten Boom referring to the biblical text of setting the prisoner free; she said that “the prisoner is you.” How true.

All I can say is: Go, forgive and follow the words of Jesus, and you will be so glad you did!

May God bless you always.

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Image courtesy of Adobe.