Forgiveness

TRANSCRIPT: Good morning, Five Minute Families. As the year marches forward, we turn our thoughts to the past two weeks of devotionals. All families will experience disagreements and disappointments, and even when we work through them well, we all find ourselves needing to forgive to avoid getting stuck in the pain or frustrations of those moments. You see, family members are our closest neighbors and are often armed with the ability to hurt us the most. Family can learn what will cut - and cut deeply - the quickest. Then, if one person is hurt, he or she may lash out and hurt everyone in the family. Learning to forgive is a vital skill. Matthew tells us in chapter 18 verses 21-22 that when asked how many times we should forgive one another, Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.” That’s a lot. But, in a family, it is often a needed prompt. Hurts run deep, and a family member may have no idea how much they have hurt you. When it is a child hurting the parent, some parents are quick to forgive, but that does not mean we do not hurt. Sometimes, the child was not intending hurt, they were merely childish. Other times, the child was being self-centered, but, again, we parents should desire setting that example of forgiveness.   In Matthew 6:14-15, the Lord tells us, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” You see, forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling. And as Jim said, parents have to set the example of forgiveness, and, yes, when your children are old enough, it means that you explain the process of forgiveness. It can begin simply when you teach your child to apologize at an early age. You can have your child say (and of course fill in the blanks), “I am sorry for [blank]. It was wrong. Will you please forgive me?” It is funny how a young child will repeat that phrase “I am sorry for hitting you. It was wrong. Will