I’ve had the honor and privilege to participate in homeschooling my three grandchildren. And as kids will be, daily there are harsh words, hurting one another with attitudes and gestures. It has provided an opportunity for me to share with them what it truly means to be “sorry.” It is more than just a word we flippantly say and then move on. It means looking in the offended persons eyes, feeling the pain you inflicted and asking for forgiveness. Which then opens another opportunity to talk about what “forgiveness” means.
To a child, forgiveness many times means “getting off the hook” for their words/deeds. Too many times, I think that is also how we as adults see it. However, both adults and children have a way of remembering when they have been wronged and can’t seem to let go of those memories. Thankfully, when the Father forgives us, He remembers it no more.
Back to being “sorry” … while teaching my grandchildren about this, it has also been a learning experience for me. Do I do the same thing? Am I flippant in my repentance? To the point of not doing it again and changing my ways/thoughts/deeds/words?
Thank you, Father, for learning opportunities for ME, even when teaching my grandchildren.
Julia Johnson
BYNA Executive Secretary
