Parenting Tip #6 Forgiveness
Scripture: Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Parenting Tip: Forgiveness Starts with Us
Have you ever had one of your kids call you out on bad behavior? Ha ha! I have. Our kids are paying attention to how we handle the hard stuff. Being forgiving is one of those. There have been times when my children say hurtful things. It’s easy to react without thinking in those cases. Over time, I’ve realized those moments are opportunities to breathe, slow down, and model the grace I hope they’ll show others someday.
And then there are the times I’ve been the one in the wrong—snapping after a long day or being too quick to make assumptions about why they’re behaving a certain way. In those moments, I’ve tried to make it a point to say sorry and to show my children that when I get it wrong, I’m willing to humble myself and ask their forgiveness. It’s hard to do, but it’s totally worth it. My children respect me more, and walls break down when I say I’m sorry.
A lack of humility and forgiveness breaks the connection in relationships. It’s about showing them that love, grace, and humility can restore what was broken. That’s the kind of home I want to build—and I’m guessing you do too.
Apologetics (Defense of the Biblical Worldview)
Child: Why does God allow bad things to happen?
Parent: That’s a great question. The Bible teaches that God is loving and just, but He also gave us free will. Sometimes, bad things happen because of people’s choices. Other times, God allows challenges to help us grow in faith and trust in Him. The bad things that happen around us remind us of our need for God and that this fallen world will one day be redeemed by God.
Those bad things often help us not to get too comfortable here but to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and his promise of eternal life, where there is no longer any pain or suffering. Even when we don’t understand everything, God has proven himself trustworthy by what we read in the Bible. Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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