Family of Pa. Amish schoolhouse shooter shares hopeful story of forgiveness, reconciliation

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2006, file photo, a helicopter takes off from the scene of a mass shooting incident at an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pa. Charles Carl Roberts IV barricaded himself inside the Amish schoolhouse near Lancaster and opened fire, killing five girls and injuring five others before committing suicide as police closed in. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2006, file photo, members of the Amish community embracer in Nickel Mines, Pa., near the scene of a mass shooting incident at an Amish schoolhouse. Charles Carl Roberts IV barricaded himself inside the Amish schoolhouse near Lancaster and opened fire, killing five girls and injuring five others before committing suicide as police closed in. (AP Photo/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Andy Starnes, File) ** MAGS OUT NO SALES ** (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2006, file photo, a Pennsylvania State Police officers holds an undated handout photo of Charles Carl Roberts IV in Nickel Mines, Pa. Charles Carl Roberts IV barricaded himself inside the Amish schoolhouse near Lancaster and opened fire, killing five girls and injuring five others before committing suicide as police closed in. Terri Roberts, the mother of the gunman says she forgave her son soon after the 2006 massacre, just as the Amish themselves did. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) (The Associated Press)

The mother of a gunman who killed five girls at an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania says she forgave her son soon after the 2006 massacre, just as the Amish themselves did.

Terri Roberts says the world needs more stories about the power of forgiveness and the importance of seeking joy through adversity.

Roberts travels the lecture circuit and is now writing a memoir. One of her sons is making a documentary about her journey from heartbroken mother to inspirational speaker.

The shooter's wife wrote a book that shares a similar message of hope amid despair.

There has been some talk about Roberts going to Newtown, Conn., where a gunman killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School last year. But she is cautious, mindful an appearance there could give offense.