A friend told me about the time he was watching
football on TV as his young daughter played nearby. Angered by his team’s bad
play, he grabbed the closest thing and threw it down. His little girl’s
favorite toy was shattered, along with her heart. My friend immediately
embraced his daughter and apologized. He replaced the toy and thought all was
well. But he didn’t know how much his fury had frightened his 4-year-old, and
she didn’t know the depth of her pain. In time, however, forgiveness came.
Years later he sent an identical toy to his daughter
when she was expecting a baby. She posted a photo of the toy on Facebook with
the words, “This gift has a very long story going back to my childhood. It
wasn’t a happy story then, but it has a happy ending now! Redemption is a
beautiful thing. Thanks, Grandpa!”
The Bible urges us to avoid angry outbursts by putting
on the new self, “which was created according to God, in true righteousness and
holiness” (Eph. 4:24). And if we are the victim of anger, God asks us to “be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in
Christ forgave you” (v.32).
Restored relationships are not easy, but they are possible by the grace of God.
