Tantrum

I've been reflecting on forgiveness a lot lately. Strife and violence and impatience and irrationality and injustice are a daily occurance - in my family's life, in this community, around the world. Israel is bombing parts of Lebanon to rubble. Suicide bombers are destroying buildings, cars, and innocent civilians' lives. Teen-agers are shooting each other to death around Philadelphia. And mothers are denying their children the basics of life: chocolate whoopie pies before breakfast.

Life with a pre-schooler is a daily experience in the wild mood swings that are part of the human condition. Spending the day with Jackson is like taking a ride on one of the giant rollercoasters that twist, turns, climbs high and soars down, all in 90 seconds. He can be so happy, pleasant, cooperative and polite. he also can be mean, rude, stubborn and unpredictable. And if he gets mad, watch out. He will yell, cry, kick his feet, jump and stomp. Yet he also can be so tender, so good-hearted, so loving, so thoughtful. Basically, he's just like grown-ups, except he has not learned yet to censor his thoughts and feelings.


But no matter how mad he gets, for slights perceived and real, he can get over his anger in a second. Heis quick to forgive - and does it freely, without reservation and never looks back. If only we all could have the generosity of spirit that he has. it's like the forgiveness that God offers us and the world, when we just ask. How much better the world would be if we could all forgive like that.