Maggie the Brave
/Sometimes your kids surprise you and humble you so much you can't believe that all the things you're teaching them are actually sinking in.
I had one of those moments yesterday. And now I'm wondering why I'm surprised at all--God is working in the lives of my kids.
A long time ago, months ago probably, Maggie told me that she was feeling bad about something she had done in fourth grade. It seemed like such a little thing to me, but I told her that if she needed to get it off her chest she should probably talk to that teacher.
Unfortunately, Maggie doesn't see that teacher very often at school, and I had completely forgotten about the issue. Thank goodness Maggie didn't forget.
When she got home from school yesterday Maggie told me that she ran into Mrs. J in the hallway. She told me she was nervous, but then she said, "I thought to myself that I better talk to her now about it or I probably never would, so I walked a little faster to catch up with her."
And then Maggie did such a brave thing. Something I am not sure many adults would even do. Something I'm pretty sure I've never done before.
She confessed. To her teacher.
She took a deep breath and said, "I did something last year that was wrong, and I'm sorry." O.K., not exactly in those words, but something along those lines with a few more specifics thrown in.
She said her teacher looked a little surprised and confused for a second, but then she simply said, "Oh! You're forgiven!"
At dinner last night, Maggie was practically floating on air as she explained the situation to our family. I said, "It feels like freedom, doesn't it?"
With a huge smile on her face, she nodded.
And with that simple act of kindness, those powerful words changed Maggie's day--and probably her life just a little.
To be forgiven is the best thing ever.
I had one of those moments yesterday. And now I'm wondering why I'm surprised at all--God is working in the lives of my kids.
A long time ago, months ago probably, Maggie told me that she was feeling bad about something she had done in fourth grade. It seemed like such a little thing to me, but I told her that if she needed to get it off her chest she should probably talk to that teacher.
Unfortunately, Maggie doesn't see that teacher very often at school, and I had completely forgotten about the issue. Thank goodness Maggie didn't forget.
When she got home from school yesterday Maggie told me that she ran into Mrs. J in the hallway. She told me she was nervous, but then she said, "I thought to myself that I better talk to her now about it or I probably never would, so I walked a little faster to catch up with her."
And then Maggie did such a brave thing. Something I am not sure many adults would even do. Something I'm pretty sure I've never done before.
She confessed. To her teacher.
She took a deep breath and said, "I did something last year that was wrong, and I'm sorry." O.K., not exactly in those words, but something along those lines with a few more specifics thrown in.
She said her teacher looked a little surprised and confused for a second, but then she simply said, "Oh! You're forgiven!"
At dinner last night, Maggie was practically floating on air as she explained the situation to our family. I said, "It feels like freedom, doesn't it?"
With a huge smile on her face, she nodded.
And with that simple act of kindness, those powerful words changed Maggie's day--and probably her life just a little.
To be forgiven is the best thing ever.
