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To Forgive is Divine: Woman Allows Son’s Murderer to Move in Next Door
Mary Johnson and Oshea Israel
If it’s human to err and divine to forgive, a mother who has forgiven her son’s murderer must be really, really divine.
Laramiun Byrd was just 20 when he was shot to death in 1993 during an argument at a party in North Minneapolis. His killer, Oshea Israel, was just 16. He spent 17 years in prison before being released recently.
He has since moved back to his old neighborhood and next door to Laramiun’s mother, Mary Johnson.
“He was an animal. He deserved to be caged,” Mary told CBS News.
A few years before he was released, however, she asked if she could meet the man who tool the life of her only child at Minnesota’s Stillwater prison. Mary is a devout Christian and wanted to see if she could find a way to forgive Oshea.
According to Oshea, they met regularly in prison after the first meeting when she had said to him, “Look, you don’t know me. I don’t know you. Let’s just start with right now.”
When he was released from prison, she introduced Oshea to her landlord and with Mary’s approval, he moved in to the building next door, and they remain emotionally close as well as physically close.
She credits God with her ability to forgive.
“Unforgiveness is like cancer,” Mary says. “It will eat you from the inside out. It’s not about that other person, me forgiving him does not diminish what he’s done. Yes, he murdered my son – but the forgiveness is for me. It’s for me.”
Oshea, on the other hand, says he hasn’t totally forgiven himself and is working to improve and forgive himself. He works a day job at a recycling plant and attends college at night. And he travels to prisons and churches to talk about Mary and forgivenesss
“A conversation can take you a long way,” Oshea said to one group.
If Mary Johnson doesn’t inspire you to let a grudge go today, then I don’t know what will.
Image: CBS News
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3 Comments
Rosana commented on Jun 08 11 at 2:12 pm“If Mary Johnson doesn’t inspire you to let a grudge go today, then I don’t know what will.” I know, right? She must be a saint!!
Alissa commented on Jun 08 11 at 4:44 pmamen! the only way to have true forgiveness is through God. we can forgive others because He has forgiven us.
Laura Lee commented on Jun 10 11 at 10:51 amI think this is an amazing story of forgiveness. I have friends and aquaintences that have had loved ones murdered and its been years and years ago and they still have a hard time letting it go. I don’t judge them though because it is a very hard thing to get over. But if this woman can forgive someone for such a horrific crime then I think we can forgive our neighbors for the little things that tick us off about them. Love your neighbor as you would love yourself.
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