Cleaning Day
FORGIVENESS IS RIGHT BECAUSE GOD IS FORGIVING.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Psalm 86:5-11.
Verse of the Day: “Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you” (Colossians 3:13, The Message).
Mom dragged a fishing pole out of the hall closet. “Benito,” she said, “why is this old thing still in here?”
Benito paused the video game he was playing and looked up. He shrugged when he saw the pole.
“Well, I’m throwing it away,” Mom announced.
“No!” Benito called. He almost threw the video game controller on the floor as he jumped up and darted over to claim his pole. “I don’t want you to throw it away.” “Why not?” Mom asked. “You never use it anymore.” “It’s broken,” Benito said with a frown. “Matt broke it last summer.” “Well, either fix it or get rid of it,” Mom said.
“I can’t fix it,” Benito complained. “It’s no good anymore. I still get mad whenever I think about it.”
Mom shook her head. “It sounds to me like this pole isn’t the only thing you need to get rid of.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t Matt tell you he was sorry for breaking your pole?” Mom asked. “Yeah,” Benito said. “But it’s still broken.”
“And so is your attitude!” She propped her hands on her hips. “You’ve been holding on to an attitude of unforgiveness, just like you’ve been holding on to that old pole! And neither one of them is ever going to do you any good!”
Mom and Benito stared at each other for a few moments without speaking. Finally, Benito said, “What am I supposed to do?”
“You tell me,” Mom said, smiling and crossing her arms on her chest.
Benito hung his head. “You’re right,” he said. “I was just so mad at him for breaking my pole.”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve done a lot worse in my lifetime, Benito, and God has forgiven me.”
“I know,” Benito said. “He’s forgiven me too.” He looked at the fishing pole in his hands. It seemed so silly to hold a grudge against his friend because of a broken fishing pole. He turned and tossed it back on the pile.
Mom smiled and wrapped her arms around him. “That’s better, Benito,” she said.
TO DISCUSS: Why is it right to forgive others? Is there anyone you need to forgive? If so, why not do it now? Is there anyone you need to ask for forgiveness? If so, why not do it now?
TO PRAY: “Lord, we need your courage and your love to forgive others. Help us to let go of any grudges we’re holding on to.”