Topics: Family; Forgiveness; Marriage; Reconciliation
References: Matthew 6:14–15; 18:21–22; 2 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 4:32
During a children’s sermon one Sunday morning, I held up a summer shirt that I wore around the house. I told the children that someone said the shirt was ugly and should be thrown away.
“I’m having trouble forgiving the person who said those mean things,” I said. “Do you think I should forgive that person?”
My daughter, Alicia, six, raised her hand. “You should.”
“But why? This person hurt my feelings,” I said.
“Because you’re married to her,” Alicia replied.
—Glenn E. Schaeffer, “Kids of the Kingdom,” Christian Reader (September–October 1997)