The story of Elizabeth Smart's journey to forgiveness

 


The story of Elizabeth Smart's journey to forgiveness is a profound and personal one, intertwined with her harrowing experience of abduction, captivity, and eventual rescue.

The Abduction and Captivity

On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. Over the next nine months, she was subjected to daily rape, physical abuse, and psychological manipulation. She was threatened with death if she attempted to escape, and this fear was a constant presence in her life during captivity

Rescue and Initial Recovery

Elizabeth Smart was rescued on March 12, 2003, by police officers in Sandy, Utah, after two witnesses recognized her captors from an episode of America's Most Wanted. Her rescue marked the beginning of a long and challenging recovery process

The Concept of Forgiveness

For Elizabeth Smart, forgiveness was not an immediate or easy process. It evolved over time and was deeply influenced by her personal beliefs and the support of her family. Her mother's advice played a significant role: "The best punishment you could ever give them is to be happy, live your life, do all the things you wanted to do. By feeling sorry for yourself, reliving the past, holding onto that, you’re only allowing them to steal more of your life away from you, and they don’t deserve that, a single second more"

Realization of Forgiveness

Smart has emphasized that forgiveness is a form of self-love rather than an act for the benefit of the perpetrators. She noted, "Forgiveness is probably one of the greatest forms of self-love there is because you don’t do forgiveness for anybody else. My captors will never care if I forgive them. … It will not make a day of difference to them at all, but it will make a huge difference to me"

The Process of Healing

Elizabeth Smart's journey to forgiveness involved several key steps:

Acknowledging the Past: She had to confront the trauma she experienced and the emotional impact it had on her life.

Support System: Her family, particularly her mother, provided crucial support and guidance.

Personal Beliefs: Her faith played a significant role in helping her find the strength to move forward. She believed that God was kind and loving, which gave her the courage to continue

Advocacy and Service: Engaging in advocacy work and serving others helped her find purpose and healing. She served a mission for her church and later founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to help other victims of sexual violence

Public Testimony and Confrontation

During the trials of her captors, Elizabeth Smart had the opportunity to confront them directly. In court, she testified about the horrific conditions she endured and the emotional toll of her captivity. When Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison, Smart addressed him, saying, "I know that you know what you did was wrong. You took away nine months of my life that can never be returned, but in this life or next, you will have to be held responsible for those actions, and I hope you are ready for when that time comes"


Reflection on Forgiveness

Elizabeth Smart's understanding of forgiveness is not about forgetting or condoning the actions of her captors but about releasing the anger and bitterness that could consume her. She realized that holding onto anger would only allow her captors to continue stealing from her life. Instead, she chose to move forward, focusing on her happiness, her family, and her work as an advocate for survivors of sexual violence

In summary, Elizabeth Smart's story of forgiveness is one of resilience, self-love, and the power of moving forward despite unimaginable trauma. Her journey serves as a powerful example of how forgiveness can be a healing and liberating force.

Note: readers can send their real story of forgiveness to mail id: ujjwal.sarkar@gmail.com for posting in my blog. 


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