• 17 July 2015

A Story of Forgiveness

There were issues with my mother–in–law from day one – she made it clear that I wasn’t good enough for her son.

On our wedding day she wore a black hat and told me that she was in mourning for him. I had a miscarriage quite early on after we got married and she said I wasn’t good enough to carry her grandchild.

She said horrible things to me, but it was always when it was just the two of us. My husband knew that I was telling the truth, but he never actually heard what she said. Around the time that my daughter was born, we ended up cutting all contact with her.

My husband and I split up and about three years after that I decided to reach out to his mother. I didn’t phone her but I sent her lots of photos of the children as she lives in Scotland. She hadn’t seen any pictures of them for a long time and she hasn’t even met the youngest two.

I was quite surprised to get a card back and some gifts for the children – now I make sure she has contact with them. They phone her regularly to tell her about school and she sends over cards and notes. I’ve spoken to her a couple of times, so I know now that things are good between us, which I’m very glad about. My main focus now is on her and the children. She is their only grandparent.

I have to say forgiving my mother–in–law has lifted a real weight from my shoulders. My faith in God has helped, too, and I think the church has played a large part in my forgiveness. I talked to my minister about it and he was the person who suggested I reach out to her.

I’ve drawn a line under the past now and moved on – and I think my mother–in–law has too.

Eileen Wilson