Teach your children to forgive

“Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime; Therefore, we are saved by hope. Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; Therefore, we are saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone. Therefore, we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own; Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

It takes a great person to fully forgive. No matter how much we love, have faith or give of our time, money and resources, we must practice forgiveness. Are you teaching your child to be a forgiving person? Do they see you say you forgive someone, yet harbor feelings of resentment and anger towards the supposed forgiven? Help your child to understand that forgiving is empowering and liberating. Let them know that sometimes they need to forgive someone even if that person hasn’t asked for forgiveness. Let your child know that forgiving the person doesn’t make the offense less painful, but that will help them through the healing process. Teach your child to learn to forgive him/herself as well. In forgiving yourself, you are able to forgive others. Show them how to forgive by setting an example.

Marie M. Roker, from http://www.successfulchild.com