The following comes from an email by David Jeremiah.
Three-year-old Holland was arguing with her mom during bedtime. Finally, her mother, Mary Katherine Backstrom, tucked the girl in, saying firmly, “I love you, Holland, but not another word tonight.
You are going to sleep now. I’m done fussing over stuffed animals.”
But Holland had one more thing to say: “Mommy, I forgive you.”
Mary Katherine didn’t know Holland even knew the word forgive, so she asked what she meant. The girl said, “It means you were wrong, and I’m tired of being mad, and now I’m going to sleep and my heart won’t have a tummy ache.”
When we forgive someone, we aren’t condoning their actions. We’re saying we’re tired of being mad, and we’re ready to let go of the fury so our heart won’t ache.
