My son asked, “Aren’t you going to punish me”? I replied that I wasn’t. He said, “I’m sorry.” I answered, “Dear boy, I forgave you already, but thank you for saying you’re sorry.” He wanted to know, why I forgave him, before he said he was sorry. I told him, because that’s how God shows us mercy, and as a parent, I think I should do the same. I told him that I know what his weaknesses are, and that he tries really hard to do what is right, and that I can forgive him for the things that don’t come easy for him. Just like God is merciful to us, when we fail. I asked him who he thought saying “sorry” was for, if I had already forgiven him. He said, “Well it must be for me, so I can forgive myself.”
I thought, wow, this forgiveness thing just makes sense to this little boy. It’s easy for me to be merciful to my son, so easy, and God’s mercy infinitely surpasses mine. I think that I have to remember that, when I see my failures everyday. … that my Father sees my effort and successes too.
It seems, for me at least, to be so much easier to fathom our Father”s love and mercy for me, when I realize how effortlessly I love my children. I want my children to succeed. I don’t want them to lose heart over their struggles with their weaknesses. I want them to know my love for them, even if they mess up. I want them to know that I know their shortcomings, and that doesn’t change my love for them at all. In fact, it inspires me toward mercy.
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.
Mt 7:11
Veronicas Veil 