Forgiveness

Science may not agree with me, but as a parent I fully believe that every rock regardless of size, shape, or geological composite is at least partially magnetic. I know this because every time a child of mine gets within two feet of one, it magically either ends up in their hand or coming into contact with their foot. I’m convinced it has something to do with the iron in their blood. Don’t quote me on that, I’m not a geologist but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express one time. Plus, I too was also a little boy once and fully understand the allure of sailing a rock across a pond or empty parking lot. I also understand a day will come when I will be required to forgive my children for accidently denting a car or shattering a window because of those magnetic rocks and their overpowering attractiveness. When that time comes I will be able to forgive them just as my mother once forgave me for nearly giving my brother stitches thanks to a poorly aimed rock thrown from what time has stretched into fifty yards away and was meant to miss him a foot to the right. To this day when he brings up that lump on the back of his head, I still tell my brother that he was at least halfway responsible because he zigged when he should have zagged.


I could probably write a five hundred page book about the different things my parents forgave me for and still have room for a sequel. After all isn’t that what being a family is all about? Growing together, learning from our mistakes, tackling life’s tough choices, and being able to forgive one another for miss-steps along the way. It seems that no matter what age I am the apologies never end as I apparently love the taste of my own in foot in my mouth.

As a spiritual family we must also remember to forgive one another like we would those genetically connected to us. Beginning in Matthew 18:21 we find Peter asking Jesus what limits should be placed on forgiveness only to be told that unless we want to end up like the servant who was delivered to the “torturers” until his slate was clean after not showing the same forgiveness his master had shown upon him,” So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”v35.

It’s hard to at look grown men and women as babies, yet in many ways we are just that having been born again through baptism in Christ. Regardless of when our baptism’s occurred all of us young and old are expected to continuously grow not only in our knowledge of Christ, but also in the way we show our faith to the rest of the world. Like a momma forgiving her little boy for failing to heed her warning against throwing rocks, we must all learn to forgive others for their mistakes in judgments and pray that one day we will be forgiven ourselves. We should never forget the words of Jesus in Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” As a former rock thrower who has passed around his share of apologies, believe me when I say there’s nothing better than knowing that forgiveness is possible.