How we blow it as humans – all of us not just some! We constantly think of ourselves and selfishness is like our middle (if not our first) name in the actions we perform with the motives we have. Forgiveness can be a nebulous subject as it is so very subjective, however, the results and consequences of our selfish actions not mixed with forgiveness can be very detrimental.

The only way I know to be at peace with God, others and myself is to learn about forgiveness. Jesus Christ has given us a literally perfect example of forgiveness when, as he was dying, he said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) referring to the people who condemned him to death and those who actually put the nails into his wrists and feet but ultimately the whole human race – you and I (even though not yet born when this travesty of justice took place).

Stephen, the first Christian martyr had the same spirit of forgiveness when he was being stoned to death when he said with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60) referring to those throwing the stones/rocks at him.

I wonder how we would manage having our lives taken from us in an unjust way. Jesus and Stephen were both innocent men who were simply going about doing good and speaking out about the great things of God but because others didn’t agree with them, they took things into their own hands. So with us, we do exactly the same. Instead of bringing matters to God for vengeance to be His, we try to put things right in a way that is often not appropriate or even unjust.

From an early age, our children need to realise that we live in an unjust world and things will be done and said to them that are not fair or right. How we need to prepare our children for the hard world we live in. Christian schools and Christian Home Education provide the right starting places and platforms to gird up our children to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might through the day to day skirmishes they experience as children. They can learn the difference between guilt and forgiveness and can come to the loving God who hears and sees them and can banish all fears and worries from them as they
learn to trust their Maker. Their characters can then become strong so that they are quick to get their lives right before God when they do slip up and the selfishness of their lives can be dealt with by God as they learn to give and be generous not just with money but with their attitudes and words as well as in the way they live.

Forgiveness is a very practical tool in life and Jesus is the expert at doing it for us as we come to Him. May our children quickly learn this so that they can become mature and influential members of society that can ooze with confidence because they know One who will never let them down even with the things that they so easily find difficult and mess up in. There is hope that when a child is taught the right way to live that they will not depart from it for long as Jesus is around to draw each prodigal back with all the forgiveness needed.