When we are “stoned” with words by persecutors including family, friends, strangers or enemies, we have a choice. We can decide to forgive them, release them from our judgment and resolve to pray for them. Or we can remain chained to them by our resentment and anger. Joy had a hard decision to make concerning a man who constantly berated her son Don when he played basketball for the junior high team. Sitting in the parents’ cheering section, she could not avoid hearing this man’s derisive remarks.