“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
As I read this scripture this morning, it struck me as a parent. As I work to grow kids into Godly adults, I wonder if I am doing a good enough job in this area of forgiving much.
I will be honest forgiving is not something I am strong at. But then if I am being really honest, I have struggled the last few months, dare I say years, at being the kind of Dad that my kids really need.
I have never really thought the two, forgiveness and much love, were connected though. On those days when I hold grudges against kids who don’t listen or are disrespectful, I do notice I get little love in return. But on those “shining moments” when I honest forgive them and express that to them, the response far exceeds what I would expect.
So what I am taking away seems to be that loving and forgiving does return far more love than holding grudge or hiding my feelings. Imagine that, God’s Word applying directly to a situation – duh! of course…
What are your thoughts about parenting and the extent one should forgive their kids even in the face of disrespect?
