I Can't Control My Cheeks

"I can't control my cheeks"

This was the phrase coming from the 8 year old son's mouth while on the way to school AND after being abused and slapped by the 6 year old son because both 'said children' wanted to sit in the 2 year old daughter's carseat WHAT?!?!?!?! {what a wonderful morning this was in our household}

I seized the 'teaching' moment to discuss how hard it is to do NICE to someone that has done something wrong to us using the above example and I may or may not have thrown in "Are you seriously mad about not getting to sit in your baby sister's carseat?"

In my best mom voice..."Max, how should we overcome evil"

"I should overcome evil by slapping Lyrik silly right NOW"

Stern mom voice..."Max is that even close to the way you think you should respond"

"No, but I don't want to do what is right because he really hurt my nose"

{Just a reminder...they are seriously fighting over who gets to sit in a 2 year old baby carseat}

Insert explanation of how we should quickly forgive NO MATTER WHAT...and the bible says that we overcome evil with good...not with getting even {this is a tough one to grasp} and the bible also says that we should "Turn the Other Cheek" - insert the above TITLE

Although this may bring some humor to you, isn't it sad how quick we are to want to get even with someone when we have been wronged or hurt??  We have been in a series at church about offenses and forgiveness. This is something we ALL deal with...we have ALL been offended...we have ALL been hurt...we have ALL been wronged at some point or another and to be honest we have ALL been the one doing the wrong too.

During this season as we approach time with our families and friends, let's choose to FORGIVE.  And it's definitely a CHOICE...we don't forgive because the other person is right, or because the other person is getting away with something they have done...WE CHOOSE TO FORGIVE because FORGIVENESS is a gift we give our self.  When we truly grasp the value of the forgiveness we receive from Jesus...we can then extend that same forgiveness and mercy to those that have hurt or offended us in our lives.

Xx Brittany