“No Maffew...I Never Forgive You....”
A New Year is here...A New Season......Oh the wonder, of what does this year hold for each and every one of us. Will we laugh, or cry, will we be strong or weak, will we walk or run, be blessed or bear heavy trials, will we be forgiven and forgive? The truth is, we will probably experience all of the above before this year has passed.
I often think of the time I overheard a conversation between my two young grandchildren. They are only eighteen months apart in age, and were inseparable at that time.
Savannah being the only girl with seven brothers could fend for herself even when she was only three.
Matthew her older brother had taken her “Dolly” blanket from her. “Give it back Maffew,” she commanded. But he only laughed as a brother can do, and just kept juggling it in front of her and then yanking it away. Savannah repeated more sternly, “Maffew you give that back to me!” But he only laughed more. I almost stepped in to say something, but decided to let them work it out. At this point, Savannah tried to make her tone even sterner--”Maffew...” and then the tears came, “give it to me,” and she started to cry. I almost said something, but that quickly, Matthew's whole expression changed. He was struck to the core; not by her words, but by her tears. He immediately gave her “Dolly” and tried to comfort her, telling her that he was sorry. It was a precious sight. “I'm sorry, Sabannah,” he said in his young earnest voice. Do you forgive me?” And Savannah who was crying, took all the stubbornness, hurt, and pain, that her three year old self could muster, and said, “NO!! NO, Maffew, I don't forgive you! NOT NOW!! NOT EBER!! I again, was tempted to intervene, but thought to wait. Now they both were sad, and fortunately, MeMaw hadn't said a word. Slowly, they began to reach out to each other and started playing together. As quickly as Savannah had said “never”, they were once again, playing together happily. Her forgiveness in her love and actions, and Matthew's sorrow and repentance for what he had done, had healed the wound. Oh, what we learn at the feet of children. Oh, the lessons we can learn. To know the power of repentance and the healing of forgiveness, is a lesson that we all are learning every day of our lives. In this new year and new season, may we watch for the stumbling blocks that come our way. May we be quick to say we are sorry and mean it with no if's, but's or excuses; and may we be quick to to forgive others the same, void of if's and but's. “For what shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:31-39 I will be speaking for The Family Prayer Table, Friday, January 17, 2025. All are welcome to call in at 12:00, at 605-472-5396 code 395806#.