Removing The Log

Removing the Log

[Jesus said,] “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? . . . First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Matthew 7:3-5

This last year, Kyle and I had an episode with our teenage son and one of his social media accounts. Some of our son’s school friends tagged him in several posts that were not at all in line with our family’s shared beliefs and faith. We talked to our son about setting appropriate boundaries, but when that failed to work, we shut his social media accounts down for a season. We explained how guilt by association worked and how, even as an “innocent” participant, he was still just that—a participant. We also explained how he could end up in the same trouble these boys were likely to find themselves in if they continued with their destructive posts.

In the days that followed I found myself not able to shake my anger toward these young men. How could they be so ignorant and mean? And then I was reminded of some foolish things I did as a teenager—things I would never do today. I felt a small tug of conviction in my heart over the way I’d been thinking and feeling toward my son’s friends.

Part of grace is offering others forgiveness—while not condoning or allowing inappropriate behavior—because we’ve been forgiven for much. Did I set boundaries for my son with social media? Absolutely. But my heart changed when I decided to forgive those boys and let go of my anger over their foolishness.

Oftentimes it’s easier to judge others without acknowledging our own sin and foolishness than it is to first assess our own behavior. But Matthew reminds us that we are to take care of the logs in our own eyes before we worry about anyone else. Kindness comes in many forms, and offering forgiveness is just one way we can choose to extend kindness toward others.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Do you have someone you’ve been unforgiving toward? Choose to forgive that person without compromising appropriate boundaries.