“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
In this brief article, Dr. Scott Turansky, co-founder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting, provides insight into the meaning of true reconciliation.
“I’m Sorry” May Miss the Mark
Reconciliation often requires that an offender comes back to try to make things right. How do we teach children to handle these situations? Saying “I’m sorry” is a reflection of an emotion that one feels inside. If a child truly feels sorrow for doing the wrong thing, then saying, “I’m sorry” is certainly appropriate.
Sometimes children don’t believe they’ve done anything wrong. Or they believe that the other person deserved what they got. Of course, even when children believe that they’ve been treated unfairly, they’re still responsible for their part of the problem. A sarcastic answer or a returned punch can’t be excused because the other person started it.
To avoid having children say one thing (I’m sorry) while feeling something different in their hearts, we encourage children to say, “I was wrong for… Will you forgive me?” This statement doesn’t require an emotion but is an act of the will. A child should be required to take responsibility for an offense whether it was provoked or not.
Don’t Try to Figure Out Who Started It
Be careful about disciplining only one child in an argument. Both are usually at fault in some way. Trying to figure out who started the problem rarely leads to peace. Victims are often instigators. Discipline children separately and teach them each how to respond to offenses. When they make a mistake teach them how to admit it and ask for forgiveness.
Of course, older children can learn to say, “I’m sorry” even if they aren’t at fault. Sometimes we say it because we’re wrong and know it. Other times we apologize because we truly are sorry that the relationship is damaged and we’re saddened that the other person is in pain. That’s a great concept to teach teens.
Humility and Courage Required
Teaching children to admit mistakes and seek to make things right, is an important part of correction. In fact, correction teaches us all valuable things. It’s often in the correction times that heart moments happen.
Used with permission Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. All rights reserved. National Center for Biblical Parenting
I would go a step further and instead of calling it a mistake, I would call it sin if indeed it IS sin. Sin needs forgiveness. Mistakes may or may not be purposely done. Sin could have been used much more in this short article. It is far more important for us to be responsive to God than it is for us to respond to our neighbor. In fact, the law is summed up in loving God and then loving your neighbor.