Forgive, lest you be forgiven

While working, I led a small group of students in a little "grief group" called Rainbows. Yesterday was the end of the year Rainbows celebration so I headed up to the school for the party. All 25+ kids were snacking on some pizza and participating in an activity about forgiveness (they each squeezed a lemon half into a bowl of water, representing their "sour" feelings; and then added sugar, representing forgiveness. Then they enjoyed their lemonade.) At the end of the lesson, the leaders passed out a balloon to each child. The children were then instructed to think of someone or something they need to forgive and write it on the balloon.

I watched as the children thoughtfully considered all the ways they had been wronged. These students are overwhelmed with heartache. They have lost a parent, a sibling. They have looked on innocently as divorce altered the blueprint of their families. They have been forgotten by their dads, lied to by their mothers, raised by their aunts. They've never experienced a family dinner, celebrated Christmas with mom AND dad, or been sung "Happy Birthday" by both parents simultaneously. They've not met their dads or witnessed a faithful marriage. They have been put down, ignored, and disregarded. There was much to be written; a balloon wasn't big enough to hold it all.

As they finished writing, those colorful balloons bobbing along the ceiling, I considered the people that I owe forgiveness. This is a hard task. When you really, truly think through your own heartache a lot surfaces. I decided on a few things that are most pertinent, that I hold in the secret places of my heart. I quietly wrote on my imaginary balloon.

We were then led into the courtyard, the childrens' balloons dancing on their strings. It looked like such a happy parade, but in reality it was a parade of hurt and wrongdoings.

"Let it go." I released my balloon.


As I looked up to the sky, I watched the breeze sweep away that sadness. So many hurts, so much to forgive. The balloons were carried up, up, up.

We are a broken people. We are redeemed by the blood of the lamb. I will never forget that day.