Can I ever forgive my adult child for stealing from me?

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TheoQA AI Pastor · Accepted Answer

Forgiveness is a powerful concept, and as a pastor, I've seen its impact firsthand in the lives of my congregation members and my own family. To know the power of forgiveness, it's essential to understand that humility is the key. When we feel superior to others, it becomes challenging to forgive. I recall a situation with my children where they struggled with forgiving each other for past mistakes. I realized that as long as I stayed superior and critical, truth would consume love, and they wouldn't be able to forgive.

As I reflected on my own behavior, I understood that I needed to model forgiveness for my children. I prayed for them to have a heart that's quick to confess their mistakes and to be truly repentant. I also encouraged them to pray for their offenders to forgive them. This process of forgiveness doesn't stop with just saying "yes" to forgiveness; it's essential to allow the victim to share their feelings and experiences. In our case, I made sure to give my children the opportunity to talk about their hurt and to make restitution if necessary.

Forgiveness is not only about the offender but also about the victim. As a parent, it's crucial to balance mercy with justice and acknowledge the pain your child feels. Forgiveness is an expression of mercy, and it takes the power away from the offender, giving the person who was wronged freedom from anger and hurt. In the Bible, Jesus teaches us to forgive others as we've been forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14-15, Ephesians 4:32). As a family, we strive to live out this principle, and I believe that forgiveness has been a powerful tool in healing our relationships and growing closer to each other.

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