OPINION/NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7
COLUMN
Love and forgiveness are key to marriage
A
s the pastor of Trin-
wives as Christ loved the
ity Lutheran Church,
Church, laying down his life
Hermiston, I have the
for her. Jesus said, “No one
honor and privilege of offi -
has greater love than this, that
ciating at many weddings.
they would lay down their life
A greater honor and privi-
for another.” So if husbands
lege for me is to work with the and wives would daily love
engaged couple as they pre-
one another by doing some-
pare for a lifelong
thing for their spouse
marriage.
that benefi ts them
We discuss many
without regard to
items such as commu-
the cost or benefi t to
nication skills, con-
themselves, their mar-
fl ict resolution skills,
riage would be much
basic fi nance/bud-
richer, more joyful
geting and spiritual
and fi lled with peace.
matters. However, I
This is certainly a
R ODNEY
believe that the two
wonderful practice
M RUK
most important com-
to cultivate in every
COMMENT
ponents of this mar-
marriage.
riage preparation
The second prac-
work which will help lead to
tice I discuss with engaged
a joyful and peace fi lled mar-
couples is that of forgiveness.
riage, is to learn about love
From a Biblical perspective,
and forgiveness from a Bibli-
forgiveness is to release the
cal perspective.
other, the offending party, from
Certainly those engaged to
any and all obligation to make
be married have deep emo-
it right. For example, if some-
tional attraction and affection
one owes me some money,
toward one another which we
when I forgive them the debt,
call love. But from a Biblical
I release them from the debt,
perspective, love is much more from the obligation of paying
than just emotions or deep
back the money owed. This is
feelings. Love from a Biblical
what God has done when Jesus
perspective is a verb. It is an
went to the cross. The debt
action, a behavior. The word
or obligation for sin against
for this is ‘agape’. It essen-
God is death. Paul wrote, “The
tially means doing something
wages of sin is death.” There-
for another that benefi ts them
fore, in the death of Jesus on
without regard to cost of bene- the cross, a payment has been
fi t to self.
made for our debt of sin. Jesus
The Apostle Paul said that
did this freely for our benefi t.
husbands should love their
As a result, we are called
to freely forgive one another
out of a sense of gratitude ask-
ing no payment or restitu-
tion be made. Husbands and
wives who release one another
from any and all obligation
to make right the offense, the
debt, fi nd that their marriage
is greatly enhanced, enriched,
and peace-fi lled.
Like love, forgiveness takes
hard work and practice. It
never means that the offense
was ‘okay’ or that the pain and
hurt are automatically healed.
But the one doing the forgiv-
ing is released from any bit-
terness and feelings of ven-
geance, etc. These emotions
can eat away at a person. For-
giveness is the beginning of
healing of the one offended
and healing of the relationship.
Love and forgiveness from
a Biblical perspective are not
only helpful in marriages, they
are helpful in any relation-
ship. Love and forgiveness
enrich and deepen relation-
ships between family mem-
bers, friends, co-workers, and
neighbors.
I encourage you to refl ect
upon these things and try being
a more loving and more for-
giving person in all your rela-
tionships. I think if you do,
you will fi nd yourself more at
peace and fi nd days fi lled with
more joy.
Rev. Rodney Mruk is rever-
end of Trinity Lutheran Church
in Hermiston.
Photo contributed by Kristi Smalley
Area 3 v 3 basketball team athletes and volunteers of Hermiston/Pendleton
Special Olympics Local Program #510.
Special Olympians slam dunk season’s end
unteers to play against the Special
Olympians. Members of the Board-
man Rural Fire Protection District
and high school students from Herm-
iston, Boardman, Stanfi eld and Irri-
gon received quite the workout from
the Special Olympians, Smalley said.
Also, Smalley said Jason Speer
along with area coaches and high
school students provided offi ciating
for the games.
“It was truly a team effort to pro-
vide a fast paced afternoon of compe-
tition for our local athletes,” Smalley
said.
Special Olympics provides ath-
letic training and competitions for
individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. There is
no cost for athletes to participate.
Athletes or volunteers interested
in the spring sports season — includ-
ing track and fi eld events, bocce or
golf — are encouraged to contact
Schneider at 541-314-0166.
By HERMISTON HERALD
A season-ending event included
40 local Special Olympics ath-
letes, who took to the hardwood to
compete.
Representing the Hermiston/
Pendleton Special Olympics Local
Program #510, basketball athletes
charged into the gyms March 17 at
Sandstone Middle School in Hermis-
ton. The afternoon began with Indi-
vidual Skills Athletes participating
in passing, dribbling and shooting
drills. Kristi Smalley said the drills
are designed to work on basketball
fundamentals.
Also, three 3 v 3 teams com-
peted against three different oppo-
nents in 20-minute games — provid-
ing an opportunity to showcase skill
improvement and teamwork.
The 5 v 5 team also competed in
three games. Providing an assist was
local program coordinator Angela
Schneider, who rounded up area vol-
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