STAUNTON: A PLACE FOR FORGIVENESS

IVY JACOBS PHOTOS - The sign above welcomes people to a place for everyone to find forgiveness because of Susan McCarthy(Right).

What do you give to an 80-year-old for their birthday? For Susan McCarthy, it was the realization of a dream. Her wish was for a quiet little place in nature along the roadside for anyone to stop and find peace for their soul through reflection, forgiveness, and enjoyment. That’s what Susan McCarthy’s family created for her.

For 13 years, many people have driven by this special place without knowing it exists on Cory-Staunton Road, just a bit south of Staunton on the west side of the road.

A simple sign showing where to pull in from the road reads, “All welcome to this place of forgiveness.”

IVY JACOBS PHOTOS - The sign above welcomes people to a place for everyone to find forgiveness because of Susan McCarthy.

“I think of forgiveness as spiritual. It is intended to be open to anyone regardless of their beliefs,” said Susan. Hand-crafted signs with inspiring thoughts about forgiveness decorate this small sanctuary among the trees.

You might wonder how this particular location was selected. Susan’s son, Joe McCarthy found that the property was up for auction. With a small scrap of paper in hand indicating the highest bid she could afford, Susan and her husband, Bill, went to the auction. “We bid on it, and we got it,” she said.

Susan’s family from throughout the United States took the forgiveness project to heart and created signs with quotes for people to lead them on their journey to forgiveness.

McCarthy Family Photo during recent Reunion, they will someday become the caretakers of A Forgiveness Place in Staunton.

Over the years, visitors have stopped, taken a seat on one of the rustic benches, and spent time there. Many have written about their feelings and experiences in a journal, stored in a weatherproof box at the site. Over the years, thirteen different journals have been filled. Susan reads each one, enjoying the compliments and empathizing with the pain and sorrow expressed on many of the pages.

Now at age 93, Susan has left this special place in trust to her family, who plan to take care of it in the future.

“This place of forgiveness would not have happened without my family,” Susan said. “It was such a nice present for me and for those who stop by.”

McCarthy Family Photo during recent Reunion, they will someday become the caretakers of A Forgiveness Place in Staunton.

IVY JACOBS PHOTO - A special box to hold journals is located at A Place for Forgiveness in Stauton, Susan McCarthy reads each one.