...is more than saying sorry" (movie title? anyone?)
Let's just say that it's not the easiest thing to do. It's WAY easy to say but not easy to do at all.
I have a 3 year old daughter and an almost 2 year old son. I've learned more about God's interaction with us from them than I've learned my entire life. My daughter is can whine with the best of them. She changes her mind mid-sentence and when she doesn't get what she wants she likes to work those vocal chords. A couple of times, mid-fit, I will tell her I love her. Her response? "I don't love you" She's stinking 3! So of course I reject her, throw her out into the yard and check to make sure she's got food and water in her dish out there for the next couple of days. (that's a joke...please don't call CPS)
How many times do we do that? Whine, change our minds, throw fits when we don't get our way. Does God reject us? No. He might put us in time out, but he doesn't leave us. His love for us doesn't change or waver like our minds and stuff. His forgiveness is eternal and genuine.
I really forgave someone today. For things that I thought were huge, but aren't. I've still got a ways to go with this one place up north, but I'm working on it. When confronted with your own depravity, then of God's redemption, what's your response?
Well said, sir. Wise blogger, you are (in my best Yoda voice).
ReplyDeletehumility. thats my response. disbelief that He doesn't judge harshly, but wants to redeem and restore the greatest of sins and sinners.
ReplyDeleteI love the lessons we learn from 3 yr olds!! SEriously! THe other day Nate was throwing a bit of a tantrum... so I let him in his room and went to mine to pray. I came back in a bit later and just picked him up and held him, saying nothing other than "you know I love you, right?"... he nodded his head and stayed quiet as we just sat there in the stillness and then he said- "Mommy, I'm sorry."
Such a sweet sweet moment and a reminder that God doesn't beat us into submission or surrender. He doesn't guilt us by yelling or pointing out all our flaws... he just picks us up, holds us close and waits for his love to melt our rebellion.
Thanks for sharing this Jon. I'm happy to have found your blog!
Tiffany