A Gracious Reply

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

My child had made a mistake. They’d hurt another person’s feelings, and even though they’d apologized, I felt I should reach out to the other child’s mom and clear everything up. But I was nervous. What will her response be? Is she angry? Hurt? Will she speak poorly of my child? All these thoughts swirled through my mind until I finally sat down and prayed.

“Lord,” I said, “please help me know what to say and let her be open to my apology.”

As I sent the text, apologizing on behalf of my child, I nervously watched for her response. I didn’t have to wait long.

“Thank you for reaching out. I really appreciate it,” her reply began. She went on to share her feelings about what had happened, being gracious toward my child. “Again, I hope you know how much it means that you reached out,” she finished.

I sat stunned, with tears in my eyes. Her response was so kind and undeserved. We chatted back and forth a little bit more as I said a prayer of thanks and the burden brought by my child’s behavior lifted. I knew we would get past this and keep our relationship intact.

Sometimes we need to ask forgiveness for what we ourselves have done, but other times we may seek forgiveness on behalf of another—whether that’s a child, a family member, or a friend. When we see that someone has been hurt, we can offer comfort and acknowledge the pain, even if we weren’t the cause of it.

Scripture tells us how we should behave as believers. We are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, remembering that it was Christ who forgave each of us. In a world that seeks to divide, we can be the peacemakers, the bridge builders, the ones who graciously forgive and seek forgiveness when necessary.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Who have you struggled to be in a relationship with lately? What action could you display toward them that would exude Christ, whether it be kindness, forgiveness, or tenderness?