PRAYER:  Assign

STORY:  Give a family member a piece of string

Once upon a time there was a peasant named David who came to the village on market day.  While walking through the public square, his eye caught sight of a piece of string lying on the cobblestones.  He picked it up and put it into his pocket.  The village harness maker, who he had been in a fight with once, saw him do this.

Later in the day, the loss of a purse was reported.  The harness maker accused David who was promptly arrested.  He was taken to the mayor, where he pleaded innocent and showed him the piece of string he had picked up.  But no one believed him and instead laughed at him.

The next day, the purse was found and David was set free.  But he was very angry and could not forgive and spoke of nothing else.  He didn't take care of his farm.  Everywhere he went he told everyone he met about what had happened.  Day and night he worried about it.  He finally became very ill and died.  His last words were "a piece of string, a piece of string."

It may be very difficult to forgive those who have hurt us, but if we don't, we cannot find peace.  We need forgiveness and mercy in our homes so tiny molehills of misunderstandings won't grow into mountains of arguments. 

SONG:  "Help me Dear Father"

ACTIVITY:  Prepare an easy obstacle course.  Have family members try to go through it while looking backwards.  After everyone has had a turn, let them go through the course looking forward.  Discuss how looking forward is like forgiveness because when we forgive we can concentrate on our future and forget about the hurts in the past.

SCRIPTURES: 

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  (Matthew 6:14-15_)

"But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."  (Matthew 5:44)

PARABLE:  The Prodigal Son

In Luke 15, we read the story of the prodigal son.  A greedy son demanded his inheritance, then wasted it and turned away from those who loved him.  After he spent all he had, he was hungry and had no friends.  He returned home to his father who when he saw his son return, "ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him."

* Have we not all made mistakes?

Christ taught that we need to repent.  Part of repentance is being able to forgive.

PARABLE:  Lazarus, Read Luke 16:19-26

ACTIVITY:  Fill a bag with five very heavy labeled objects (books, rocks, etc.)

                    1.  Revenge
                    2.  Hurt
                    3.  Hate
                    4.  Resentment
                    5.  Anger

Have each family member take turns carrying this heavy load.  Explain that carrying those feelings in our hearts is an even greater burden than carrying the heavy bag.  When we truly forgive, we forget all these feelings and are free from the burden of carrying them. 

*  Who is hurt the most when we do not forgive others?  (we are)
*  What difference does it make when we forgive?  (we can be happy and not miserable, we can be forgiven of our own sins)
*  Why do you think the Lord commanded us to forgive everyone?  (He wants us to feel the peace that comes from forgiving.)

IF APPROPRIATE:  Share a personal experience.

Charles Dickens penned a little known work book for his children, entitled, "The Life of Our Lord."  It was is personal testimony of Christ, not for publication.  The manuscript remained a closely held family treasure for some eighty-five years.  After his youngest son died in 1933, the family published it.  Mr. Dickens concluded the book with these words, "If we will be more compassionate, forgiving, respectful, and patient, then our Heavenly Father's love will be more generous towards us."

CHALLENGE:  Ask family members to be more forgiving with one another during the week.  Watch for the difference the spirit of forgiveness can make in your home.

PRAYER:  Assign.

TREATS:  Repentance Cupcakes

 

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