Gaby
A Ubiquitous Theme
This theme is everywhere: in our own lives, in the lives of others, in relationships with children, with parents—it’s everywhere… Just like the eternal nature of it.
Sometimes I find myself thinking about how so often we want to give in to our emotions and do something rash, something spiteful or forbidden… to someone, or even experiment with our own lives… And you wait to see what will come of it. Because something always does—it’s just the law of life. The law of the “boomerang.”
Sometimes Sasha does something outrageous, and I think: I could forgive her, but that won’t teach her anything… So, with my child, I try not to scold or hit, but rather let her feel the consequences. For example, if something she does really bothers me, I might get upset and not talk to her for a while… so she learns to apologize and understand what hurts others. After all, it’s not good to forgive everything. In fact, I believe you can forgive, but it should come with the understanding that to be forgiven, one must take some action, not just casually say, “Sorry… and let’s move on.” This is especially important with children, from a very young age! By the way, children are very perceptive; they strongly dislike people who let them get away with everything (if anyone has ever noticed…). A child’s soul knows and feels that permissiveness and impunity are not good and will lead to nothing positive.
But when it comes to our own lives, it gets trickier. We’re no longer children; there’s no one to “educate” or “punish” us. As grown-up children, we can only be hit over the head with a metaphorical club—and then the avalanche of grievances and mutual accusations begins. At that point, it’s hard to untangle who is right and who is wrong because we start transferring our feelings to other issues.
What holds us back from such misdeeds and mutual mudslinging is only faith. After all, in God’s eyes, we are all children. ALL of us. And who are you to hurt someone, to inflict pain on another, justifying and elevating yourself with the words: “But that’s not ME!!!! That’s someone ELSE!!!!” It’s downright shameful to realize how low one can sink…
Lord! Beloved FATHER, forgive me! Forgive ME first and foremost….
