WATCH: How This Extraordinary Woman Forgave The Man Who Infected Her With HIV

December 1, 2012 Subscribe · Forward HIV/AIDS And Forgiveness: How Judith Shaw Forgave Herself And The Man Who Infected Her Judith Shaw's boyfriend and father of her daughter sat her down some years ago and gave her the news that would change her life: "He said, 'I need to talk to you. I just want you to know, I have what Magic Johnson has.' I said, 'What does Magic Johnson have?' He replied: 'He has AIDS.'" Shaw shared her wrenching story of being infected with HIV in the director's cut of Helen Whitney's film "Forgiveness: A Time to Love and A Time to Hate." The film, which was broadcast by PBS in 2011, explores the possibilities and limitations of forgiveness. Although it took a long time, Shaw insists that forgiveness saved her life: "For me, If I hadn't forgiven I would be out there, somewhere, in that world, abusing myself, I would die." Coming from an alcoholic family and experiencing sexual assault by an uncle starting when she was seven, Shaw had gone through a lot by the time she was told she had been infected with HIV. Her first reaction to the news was violent anger. "I was so angry, I was so scared," explains Shaw. "I wanted to die, but before I died, I wanted to kill Joe. I went to his door, with the gun behind my back, rang the door bell, and he came to door and, honest to God, I saw my daughter's face." What followed were years of hating and hurting herself through drug abuse and neglect. But she also started therapy and, as she explains, she stopped hating herself, which was the first step toward forgiving herself and forgiving those who had hurt her. "Once I was able to forgive me, that freed me up to forgive everybody else. And it took a long time...to get to where I am. I forgave my uncle, because not to forgive him gives him power -- and Joe for infecting me with HIV. I don't want to live with that because I don't want to be a bitter old woman. I want to grow old gracefully. And that's what I intend on doing. And I am loving life. I just got married, I don't have time to be bitter." Shaw now works at the receptionist at the Virology Institute in Baltimore where she brings her experience to offer wisdom, compassion and kindness to those who are newly infected. "I thank God for forgiveness. I'm HIV positive and living well." Click here to learn more about the film Forgiveness: A Time to Love and A Time to Hate  Continue reading... Judge Rejects Much Of Schuller's Bankruptcy Bid U.S. Dominates List Of World's '500 Most Influential Muslims' Pat Robertson Debunks Creationist Idea That Earth Is 6,000 Years Old Ken Reid, Virginia Official, Calls Atheist Group 'Terrorists' After Leader Criticizes Holiday Display (VIDEO) Secession Theology Runs Deep In American Religious, Political History World's '500 Most Influential Muslims' 2012 Dominated By U.S. Secession Theology Runs Deep In American Religious, Political History Barack Obama Depicted As Jesus: 'The Truth' Painting Draws Criticism For Controversial Metaphor (PHOTO) Pat Robertson Dispels Creationist Idea That Earth Is 6,000 Years Old (VIDEO) 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Moves Evangelicals Beyond Black And White Sexuality Pastafarians Demand Place In Courthouse Holiday Display, Want To Put Up Pasta-Covered Tree (VIDEO) WALLACE BEST, PH.D. 'Color' and Christ in America Jesus became white precisely at the time when the contours of American citizenship were being defined. A white nation required a white God. Continue reading... REV. MALCOLM BOYD Obama's America: A Spiritual Wake Up Call I believe a highly significant part of my being an American is my freedom to protest actively and nonviolently when I completely honestlly disagree with the momentary course of events. In this spirit, I watched President Obama accept the mantle of leadership for another four years. Continue reading... REV. G. JUDE GEIGER Liberal Theology and the Uncertainness of God Our theology is both a faith statement and a process of reflection. Our faith teaches us that we can expect to continue to be inspired, to learn from one another, and to seek out that spiritual growth. Continue reading... STEPHEN SCHWARTZ How Albania's Religious Mix Offers an Example for the Rest of the World It has been said often that small nations may produce great ideas. Albania suffers economically, but it maintains its dignity. For Albania's example of cooperation between believers, it deserve the congratulations of the world in the 100th year of its independence. Continue reading... REV. CHUCK CURRIE Churches Must Help Nation From Falling Off The Cliff Falling off the cliff would mean that we would not only stop progress toward faithful goals but that we would fall further behind as the nation returns to recession and economic turmoil. Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here Unsubscribe here.