What to do when someone says they are sorry. Children’s message by Swede & Tim Johnson

Forgiving is hard work, especially if you got punched.

Staying mad It is very easy to stay mad at someone who has done something mean or wrong to you.

A little story Over 60 years ago, our country fought in a horrible war. World War II had the country of Germany, Italy and others fighting against the United States and their allies. In Europe where much of the war was fought, the country of Germany caused great damage and injury to the countries that were around it.

Whole cities were often damaged by the Germans. It hurt a lot of people.

Germans ask forgiveness When the war finally ended, many Germans felt sorry for what they had done. So they asked a Priest to go across the border into one of the nearby cities they had damaged and ask if they could come say they were sorry. When the Priest told the church members what the Germans wanted to do, the people of the church got angry. “No way,” they said, “we don’t want anything to do with those people!”

The Priest offers a prayer When the Priest heard what the people had to say he stopped and said, “I understand your anger, you have spoken. May we end our meeting now in prayer.” Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

The Priest stopped… The church was silent. The words, “as we forgive those who trespass against us,” echoed through the church. No one said a word. Then from the back of the church came a soft voice, “if God can forgive us our many sins, then it is time we forgive our enemies.”

“As we forgive those who trespass against us….” Then the rest of the church understood the message of forgiveness and when it came time to visit with the German people, they accepted their apology and granted forgiveness.

The key to forgiving, is being forgiven The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen The Lord's Prayer (Spanish) Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos Santificado sea tu Nombre Venga tu reino Hágase tu voluntad En la tierra como en el cielo Danos hoy el pan de este día y perdona nuestras deudas como nosotros perdonamos nuestros deudores y no nos dejes caer en al tentación sino que líbranos del malo. Amen.