In this episode of the Abiding Together Podcast, we discuss the power of living a forgiving life, especially when it comes to parenting children, and how unforgiveness in our life can keep us in bondage, and stems from a wound that needs healing. We talk about how sometimes forgiveness feels like we are letting people off the hook, instead of it being a willingness to release our grasp and open ourselves up to God's grace.
One Thing We Love this Week
* Sister Miriam’s one thing - Seeking Healing Through Forgiveness SEEK Talk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8rVfw013TQ&t=17s) with Fr. John Burns
* Michelle’s one thing - Endow - Discovering the Doctors (https://endowgroups.org/studies/discovering-the-doctors-hildegard-of-bingen-the-doctors-of-the-church)
* Michelle’s other one thing - Story of forgiveness (https://youtu.be/WWwWIaEwaAw)
* Heather’s one thing - Blessed is She daily devotional for children ages 8-12 called Rise Up (https://blessedisshe.net/product/rise-up-virtues-devotional-for-kids/)
Discussion Questions
1. What is one area where you are finding it hard to offer forgiveness?
2. Sister Miriam quotes this “resentment is like drinking a little bit of poison every day and hoping the other person dies.” Discuss this truth in your own life.
3. How can you model a life of forgiveness? If you have children, how can you teach your children about forgiveness?
4. How have you experienced the mercy of God in your life?
Journal Questions
1. Who in your life do you need to offer forgiveness to? What is holding you back from this?
2. Journal about how you have felt God’s mercy in your own life
3. How have I hurt people in my life and need to ask for forgiveness? In what ways can I restore the relationship?
Quote to Ponder
“Forgiveness is the restoration of freedom to oneself, it is the key held in our own hand to our prison cell” - Saint Pope John Paul II
Scripture for Lectio Divina - Matthew 6:12
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us”