A Clean Uniform

Bible Reading: Proverbs 19:11; Matthew 18:21-22

Cole gathered up his dirty clothes. He put them into a basket and carried it downstairs to the laundry room where his mother was putting detergent into the washer. “My baseball uniform is in here, Mom,” he said. “It got pretty dirty when I slid into home plate.” Cole grinned. “But it was worth it! We won! Now I’ll need it for the game tomorrow.”

“No problem,” Mom said. “I’ll wash it for you.”

After the game the next day, Cole got into the car with a scowl and slammed the door hard. “Whoa, Cole! What’s wrong?” asked Mom.

“Dad said he’d come see me play this time,” muttered Cole as he threw his mitt onto the floor. “He promised, but he wasn’t here!”

“I’m sorry, honey,” Mom said. “Something must have come up.”

“Yeah, that’s what he always says,” grumbled Cole. “But Dad’s missed almost every game since you got divorced. It’s just not fair! I’ll never forgive him!”

Mom sighed. “I know it’s hard, but when Jesus was asked how many times we should forgive someone, He said ‘seventy times seven.’ That’s a lot of forgiving.”

“I’m sure I’ve forgiven Dad that many times already!” said Cole. “I’m done!”

“You know that verse isn’t really talking about a specific number, don’t you?” Mom asked. “It means we should forgive every time someone makes us angry or hurts our feelings—the way Jesus forgives us. It’s like…well, like your uniform. I just washed it yesterday, and now you’ve gotten it dirty again.”

“I always get it dirty when I play,” said Cole. “What does that have to do with Dad?”

“Every time it gets dirty, I wash it—even though I know you’re going to get it dirty again, right? I wash it whenever it needs to be washed. That’s the way we have to forgive too.”

Cole sighed. “So you’re saying I have to keep forgiving Dad even though what he did hurts and I know it will happen again?”

Mom nodded. “It’s never easy, and I think you should talk to your dad and tell him how his actions have hurt you. But Jesus has forgiven us for all our sins, and He tells us to forgive others when they hurt us.” • Holly F. Cepeda

How About You?

Have you found it hard to forgive someone? Forgiving others isn’t easy, especially if they repeat the action that hurt you.* But Jesus wants you to do it anyway. When you remember how often you do something wrong and are forgiven by Him, it makes it a little easier to forgive those who hurt you. Forgive others the way He forgives you.

*Forgiving someone does not mean you let them continue harmful behavior.
If someone is hurting you, seek help from a trusted adult.

Today’s Key Verse:
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Develop a forgiving spirit