Earlier this week, I decided I would hang a mirror on the back on my eldest son’s door. The one he has wanted me to hang up since last August. However, before I could hang up this mirror, I thought it would be a good idea to paint the door. You see marks and scratches cover the the door. Some of those from the innocent days of playing on the floor. Some of those the reminder of a frustrated student or a frustrated parent entering or leaving the room.
So, I finally found some time when he was not occupying the room where I could paint the door. I mentioned yesterday that the idea of forgiveness and what that looks like when lived out in our lives has circled around in my mind. As I placed that bright white paint on my brush and then on the door, covering those marks, many of them small reminders of pain, I was reminded of how forgiveness, when properly received and graciously given, does the same in our lives. It ‘erases’ the past, cleans the slate, and allows us to be presented again white, clean and new, just like that nice white door with the mirror on the back.
That’s a great thing for him! And forgiveness can be a great thing for you!
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 New International Version (NIV)
Oh, I must tell you. I was awoken last night to what I thought were robbers in the house. Turns out, the mirror tape was not strong enough, and that mirror decided to free itself from the back of the door and make an awful noise at it hit the floor! The door is still white however!