Forgiveness Replay

Teaching Kids Forgiveness Episode 231  In teaching kids forgiveness you are giving your children the tools or fundamentals of forgiveness but arguably one of the best gifts you can ever give them. Please help us out – Please help share this episode with your friends! And, please give this show a star rating on iTunes (search for Vintage Homeschool Mom) or any podcast app on your smartphone. Thanks so much for helping share this show with your friends! Here are the podcasts I did on the topic of forgiveness on our sister network, The Ultimate Christian Podcast Network, Forgiveness Podcast #10 and Asking Forgiveness  Podcast #11 Thanks to our Sponsor! I’d like to thank our sponsor, Media Angels, Inc. and the Membership website.     Show Notes: Teaching Kids Forgiveness: Do you teach your children to say, “I’m sorry – or will you forgive me” when they have hurt someone? I know if you are a mom or dad you most certainly have and I’m sure more than once! In life, people hurt you and even in the Bible Jesus tells us to forgive each day, 77 times! But how do you explain this to your children? Today I’m going to explain how as well as give you some practical applications. Teaching kids forgiveness is not only possible it is amazingly practical and will make your life so much easier. Can you imagine? Kids that truly forgive? Forgiveness, when it happens in the way that God designed, it is truly beautiful. You can teach your children that God forgave us our sins and so, gave us the perfect example of forgiving. You can also teach your children the Lord’s prayer, when we recite, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Here we are praying to the Lord to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others who have hurt us. But, did you know there is a difference between forgiveness as a feeling and as a decision? Teaching your children about forgiveness is really a two-fold situation. It is teaching your child to look for at forgiveness as a give and take. It is not one-sided. So, what do I mean by this? First, there is the person who has been hurt. We always say arguments take two people, at least right? There is a he-said, she-said. But either way, someone is hurt either physically or psychologically. Second, there is a consequence to our actions. We must be held accountable for what we do. If a child hurts someone physically or using words, the consequences tend to be different. Usually parents, and I know I did, give a harsher punishment to a child that hurts another. It is thought that using words is not as bad, however, words sometimes have a lasting effect. But there is good news when teaching kids forgiveness! You are teaching your children that they don’t have to hold grudges forever, they can be set free and so can their siblings, friends or even you the parents. In sharing with your children about forgiveness I have developed three points I discuss with my children… * Forgiveness is making a decision to forgive even if we don’t feel like it. Forgiveness is not a feeling in that “I feel like forgiving you.” No, forgiveness is an act of will. * We forgive out of obedience to God – when He says we must forgive 70 x 7 per day. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me?