In this episode of the Abiding Together Podcast, we discuss the power of living a forgiving life, especially when it comes to parenting children, and how unforgiveness in our life can keep us in bondage, and stems from a wound that needs healing. We talk about how sometimes forgiveness feels like we are letting people off the hook, instead of it being a willingness to release our grasp and open ourselves up to God’s grace.
One Thing We Love this Week
- Sister Miriam’s one thing – Seeking Healing Through Forgiveness SEEK Talk with Fr. John Burns
- Michelle’s one thing – Endow’s Discovering the Doctors
- Michelle’s other one thing – Story of Forgiveness
- Heather’s one thing – Blessed is She daily devotional for children ages 8-12 called Rise Up
Discussion Questions
- What is one area where you are finding it hard to offer forgiveness?
- Sister Miriam quotes this “resentment is like drinking a little bit of poison every day and hoping the other person dies.” Discuss this truth in your own life.
- How can you model a life of forgiveness? If you have children, how can you teach your children about forgiveness?
- How have you experienced the mercy of God in your life?
Journal Questions
- Who in your life do you need to offer forgiveness to? What is holding you back from this?
- Journal about how you have felt God’s mercy in your own life
- How have I hurt people in my life and need to ask for forgiveness? In what ways can I restore the relationship?
Quote to Ponder
“Forgiveness is the restoration of freedom to oneself, it is the key held in our own hand to our prison cell” – Saint Pope John Paul II
Scripture for Lectio Divina – Matthew 6:12
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us”
Dear Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather,
I am not one of your young adult listeners. Rather, my spiritual granddaughter told me about your podcasts; and I have found them quite good, today, in particular, resonates loudly in my heart.
With that in mind, may I ask a question of Sr. Miriam. I am 71 years old, sexually abused not only by my father; but given by him to a cult. All of this at the age of 4 – 6, ending up with me having MPD and a life of mental illness, temporarily stopping at the age of 59. Fast forward to 2017 and having to go through healing ministry with a diocesan bishop and priests, revealing the fact of the cult involvement. My question to you, Sr. Miriam, is how to forgive persons or people you do not know; but programmed you to self-destruct, deny your faith and anything spiritual; and only by the grace of God did you find help for this. With the rites, it was very often said forgiveness is key; but how, as I said, when you do not know them?
Thank you so much for this very important topic today.