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Forgiveness is powerful!
How is your summer going? You might have little ones and it doesn’t feel too different to normal, or perhaps you are eagerly awaiting the restart of toddler groups that are having a break!
Maybe you’ve had some extra time with your child who is off school and are enjoying playing games at home or day trips out.
Whatever you have been up to, there are often times where it is hard not to lose patience with our children. When the boredom sets in and there's extra mess to clear up, the arguments can begin and tempers can run short on both sides!
And that’s ok – this can provide the chance to be real with our children about how we always have to come to God and others, saying sorry, asking for forgiveness and forgiving in return. It’s good to be reminded that it is a daily choice to ‘put on love!’
"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of your has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
It might feel disconcerting to apologise to our children, but it actually models to them so many things. That we all make mistakes. That we all need forgiveness. That we say sorry to God too - and his love is unconditional and he always forgives us.
We hope that being real and authentic with your children opens up some gateways to great conversations for you this month.
Becky and the Kitchen Table Project team
Be real
If you make a mistake this week, or find yourself lacking patience and love, find a time to say sorry to your children and explain that you also have to say sorry to God.
Ask them to forgive you. It's a great model of how God loves us unconditionally.
Creative 'sorry' prayers
There are lots of creative prayer ideas around saying sorry and forgiving others.
We love these ideas from Thy Kingdom Come of having a 'sorry' bin or shredder, or washing your hands as you forgive somebody.
Finding God in the mess
Check out our latest blog where love and kindness were lacking, but ultimately the family were able to see God's love and forgiveness at work.
Please send us your stories of inspiring faith at home – good and bad – we know it’s a rollercoaster! We’d love to include them in our emails and on the blog.
