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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
February 2002 |
My Witness:
Image of forgiveness
By Kurt Stone
In spite of some moderate developmental delays, Daniel is a typical brother to his three older sisters. Three-year old Daniel, like all brothers, enjoys teasing and taunting sisters, Elizabeth, Rachel and Grace. Most of the time, it's games of peek-a-boo, hide-and-seek or keep-away with a ball. But occasionally, Daniel crosses the line from harmless fun to hurtful horseplay.
When one of the girls is sitting on the floor and obviously not looking, Daniel will sneak up from behind, rear back his left leg, and then swing his foot forward with a kick strong enough to make a 50-yard field goal! His mean, cowardly act always creates loud shouts, wailing crying and a lesson about making apologies. As parents, we desire Daniel to understand the practice of forgiveness; his sisters are demonstrating to him the truth of "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."
One of Daniel's developmental delays involves speech, so he has been learning some sign language. More, help, eat, play and apple juice are just some of the words he can sign. He can't speak the words "I'm sorry," so we taught him to sign it. A closed fist with one hand making circles on the chest, like tracing the letter 'C,' is the sign. He can make the sign, almost daily. But for some mysterious reason, instead of making the sign on his chest, Daniel seeks out the one he has offended, and then makes the "I'm sorry" sign on their chest. What a wonderful image of forgiveness. Coming face-to-face with the one hurt, within an arms length, then offering a gesture of "I'm sorry." Daniel's act of forgiveness communicates more than empty words can say.
It just struck me as odd, with the recent talk of vengeful retaliation and action of punishing retribution, there doesn't seem to be much interest in the world to seek justice with a touch of forgiveness … except for a little boy. But what does he know?
The Rev. Kurt Stone is at Shirley-Wilkinson Community UMC in Shirley, Ind.
Last updated on 01/14/2004