Failing and Forgiveness

The other day we were driving down the road and I found myself apologizing to my children again for being short with them that morning and for being "snappy" while trying to get them out of the house and off to school. It always amazes me how quick they are to forgive. They don't play any of the games that adults tend to play like pouting, saying they forgive you but still giving you the silent treatment, or saying they forgive you but then re-hashing everything you did that hurt them. They say "I forgive you Mommy!" with a genuine, sincere love and then act as if nothing ever happened, laughing and playing with me immediately in a fully restored relationship. I was thinking about this and how many times I screw up as a Mom and how many times my kids bounce back and forgive and still trust and love me and then the Lord spoke 1 Peter 4:8 to me, saying "Love covers a multitude of sins". The full verse in the Amplified version says "Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]." Proverbs 10:12 carries this same message in saying that "Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses."(NLT)

I see these verses as having a three-fold message. First, it is my children's unconditional and innocent love for me, which is a gift from God, that allows them to so easily forgive me. Secondly, I believe that it is because of MY love for THEM, which is also a gift from God, and their assurance of that love, that they are able to forgive me. God has so strongly placed it on my heart that I need to assure my children multiple times daily of my love for them - giving them a squeeze, a pat, a hug, verbally telling them I love them and I'm proud of them, saying I love them in as many different ways as I can. I want my children to be able to one day say "I grew up in an imperfect home with an imperfect mom, but I always knew that I was LOVED." That is more important to me than any other measure of "success". Thirdly, I believe that it is because of GOD'S love and His grace through His Son that my wrongs as a mom and my imperfections are covered. He knows I am doing my best. He knows my limitations. Because of His intense love for me, He will, and He does through the blood of Jesus, cover my imperfections and my mistakes.

Tonight I was putting my oldest to bed and he asked me if he could pray for me. He prayed "Lord, I thank you for my mommy. She works so hard all by herself with no help but she is never grumpy and does a good job. I know she is tired but she doesn't say she is tired and she still plays with me. I know my mommy loves me. Please send somebody to help my mommy so she doesn't have to do so much all alone." I was absolutely in shock, to say the least. And first of all, let me say that I am NOT writing this to brag - I am writing this because it glorifies God's mercy and His love and His power and Him alone because I DO COMPLAIN...I DO tell my children I am tired and cannot play...I AM grumpy - often - and I make mistakes DAILY with my children. I am an imperfect, fallen, tired, grumpy mom. But glory be to God, He has covered my imperfections in love and allowed my child to see me for a moment through these eyes of love. Needless to say, I was of course crying by the end of the prayer. To hear this prayer from my child was a gift from God saying "I see you, daughter, and I will take care of your human mistakes. Rest in Me and Rest in My LOVE."

I say all this to encourage you to LOVE your children and to tell them over and over, as much as you can, that you love them. When you yell at them, stop, sit down, pull them over to you and APOLOGIZE. Say to them "Mommy didn't mean to yell. I'm sorry. I love you so much. Please forgive me. You are important to me...." Your love, their love, and God's love WILL cover the multitude of your mistakes. Remind them daily that they are loved not only by you and other family and friends, but that they are the beloved children of their Father in Heaven. Tell them daily "God loves you so much. You are so loved. You are precious to God. So many people love you. Grandmama loves you, Aunt Sue loves you, your teacher loves you...." Knowing that they are surrounded by love not only from you and from others on earth but also by their heavenly Father WILL cover a multitude of wrongs, as written in 1 Cor 13:7-8 "Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails...."

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Cor 13:1-3