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There are one million new books published each year. With so many books and so little time, where do you begin to find your next must-read? There’s the New York Times Bestseller list, the Goodreads app, the Cape Library’s Staff picks shelf and now Martin’s Must-Reads.Every Wednesday at 6:42 and 8:42 a.m., and Sunday at 8:18 a.m., Betty Martin recommends a must read based on her own personal biases for historical fiction, quirky characters and overall well-turned phrases. Her list includes WWII novels, biographies of trailblazers, novels with truly unique individuals and lots more. Reading close to 100 titles a year, Betty has plenty of titles to share.Local support for "Martin's Must Reads" comes from the Cape Girardeau Public Library and the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.

Martin's Must Reads: 'The Gift of Forgiveness'

"My mom explained that everyone makes mistakes and that we have to learn to forgive our friends.  So that’s exactly what I did…I went to school the next day and told my friend that I forgave her. She said she was sorry and we hugged and made up.  Years later, I came to learn that was, in fact, not forgiveness.”

I’m Mark Martin with "Martin’s Must Reads" and Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt uses this quote to begin an exploration of a subject that touches all of us in her book The Gift of Forgiveness; Inspiring Stories from Those who have Overcome the Unforgiveable.

This little book is made up of horrible, heart wrenching stories and those who have forgiven.  We hear from a kidnapping and rape victim, from the mother of a child killed in a mass school shooting, from the son of a Columbian drug lord, from a man tortured by al-Qaeda in Iraq, and other stories filled with impactful emotions.

We find forgiveness is deeper and much more complicated than what we learned as children, but at the heart of true deep forgiveness is a deliberate choice by the one who has been hurt not to  carry the anger and resentment any longer.

Pratt writes, “If I have learned one thing from writing this book, it is that forgiveness is deep, challenging, complex, and unique to everyone, but when it is done—truly and completely—forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give to others and to yourself.  When we are able to forgive, our lives change for the better, and we are set free.”

If you are struggling with, or have struggled, with  forgiving someone, you must read Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt’s book The Gift of Forgiveness.
 

Mark co-hosted "Martin's Must Reads" until October 2022. He passed away unexpectedly on October 21, 2022.
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