Hello Everyone,
It has been a long time since I have written. While I have missed putting thoughts into words to publish here, I was putting words together to tutor 4 children, one aged 5 and a half, one aged 6 and two aged 7. Truly, I grew to love these children as we spent time learning about words and numbers and Jesus. This is my first week without them and I feel the loss keenly, but I know that the Lord has something new for them and for me.
Of all the things I taught them, I hope that giving and receiving forgiveness remains at the top of their lists. With four young ones in a class, you can imagine there were interruptions when someone else was speaking. Sometimes, a child would be so excited to know an answer, he or she would answer for another child.
It helped them to learn that sometimes our brains need time to find the best answer, that the best answer isn’t always the first one that comes to our minds. They discovered that if they answered for someone else, that took away the other person’s opportunity to learn. They learned this by understanding what they felt when their opportunity to learn was taken away.
The other way they learned this was to become responsible for their behaviour. Each had a set of bookmarks, in their favourite colours of course. One bookmark said:
I am sorry that I _____(fill in the blank)_____. Please forgive me.
The other bookmark said …
I forgive you for _____(repeat what the other child had asked forgiveness for)_____.
Everyone one, including me, had to mean what we said or it didn’t count. We had to try our best not to do it again.
This, more than any other thing I tried, restored order and gave everyone a fresh start. How I wish that all of us would be willing to ask for forgiveness and offer it freely to others, whether they have asked for it or not.
Is there someone you would like a fresh start with today?
Every moment, God is willing to give us a fresh start. Just like the children, all we have to say is:
I am sorry that I _____(fill in the blank)_____. Please forgive me.
In the Bible, it says:
If we confess our sins, He (meaning God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John 1:9
Moment by moment, we can have a fresh start. Is that what you need today? Here is my prayer for you.
Father, someone who is reading this may need a fresh start today. Please give that person the courage to approach You, the belief that You will listen with Your loving heart to what he or she wishes to share with You, and the hope that indeed, he or she will have a fresh start with You.
Please Father, make Your presence known to all of us in new ways so that our relationship with You is deepened and strengthened. May we draw comfort from Your words. In Jesus’ precious and Holy name, I pray. Amen.