And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Many years ago with my son was a student at a Lutheran preschool, the teachers taught the children not only to say, "I'm sorry", but to also say, "I forgive you." One day after my son offered a litany of complaints about another boy in his class, I explained that forgiving someone means we don't complain about it any more. Boy did that come back to bite me the next time he did something that displeased me. I heard my own words come out of his mouth, "Mom, 'I forgive you' means we don't complain about it any more."
Lately, I've learned that the connection between complaining and forgiveness goes both directions. You see, I've been working to not complain in the last few weeks. I have discovered that in order to stop from complaining about someone (either out loud or in my internal monologue), I also must forgive them. This has truly been eye opening for me. As I have listened to myself and the things I say or think, I have become aware of hurts and anger I've been holding on to for quite a while. So my journey into less complaining has really become a journey into forgiveness.
What about you? Have you ever explored the link between our complaints and a lack of forgiveness?
Yes, I think that complaining can be a reminder of our failure to forgive. In one sense, from my Lutheran perspective, I'd say complaining is the law at work condemning my sin and driving me to the gospel and my need for forgiveness. Children indeed can be our best teachers! :-)
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