FARGO, ND — Michael Harlow carries himself with a quiet grace. He’s a man of few words, and yet his message of forgiveness after the abuse he suffered 25 years ago at the hands of his babysitter could fuel countless textbooks on the human condition.

“I forgive her. People ask me why don’t I go find her, but no, really, I have no hard feelings toward her at all. I can’t really. I don’t know her,” said Harlow, now 26 years old.

A thin man, Harlow’s handshake is firm, hands well-muscled from five years building lake houses in Minnesota. He admits his shortcomings as easily as his successes.

One trauma after another, Harlow, his siblings and his mother, Heather Hofstrand, have found strength through faith in family.

Harlow’s first trauma came in September 2000, after he suffered second-de

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