Teaching Forgiveness | Part 1

Parenting On Purpose

Why It’s Important To Teach

Forgiveness is not something that is focused on much in today’s society. We want our children to stick up for themselves, to be on top of the “pecking order”. It’s not a very popular idea to turn the other cheek or “love your enemies.” We unfortunately can see the emotional effects of this attitude in the world around us. We live in a world of revenge, anger, bitterness and road rage. Our anger bubbles so close to the surface that someone cuts us off or steps in front of us in the grocery store line and we are ready to “let them have it”. Unfortunately, this attitude is being observed by our children. Our example is probably one of the most important things in training our children. So our question for today is are we teaching our children to forgiveness even in these small instances so they are prepared for when the big offenses happen?
We are forgiven by God so we can offer forgiveness to others. Scriptures go so far to say that the level of forgiveness we offer is the level we will be given. We must keep Christ as our example. “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” He even took it a step further, while He was on the cross in His agony He beseeched His Father to forgive us. Wow, what a high calling we have to live this out for our children. Choose to teach forgiveness even in the small instances, through your example.