It was a small gesture, but it meant the world…not to the intended recipient, but to me…Mom. The picture you see here is my 6 year old son’s apology to his five year old brother. They were playing in the yard. The play wrestling got a little carried away and before I knew it…both were hurt, crying and mad. I sent them up to their respective rooms and sat down to read my three year old a book.
After a little time out, they were both allowed to come out, but play separately. About an hour later, the five year old was in the bed and the six year old was looking for him.
“Mom,” he said, covered in chalk.
“Yes, Breck?”
“Where is Jake? I have something to show him.”
“He’s sleeping, honey.”
“Oh,” he walked away, head hanging.
Something was obviously bothering him…a lot.
“Breck,” I said, “do you want to show me?”
His face lit up with a smile and he took my hand and led me outside. The picture with this blog was what he showed me… a drawing of his little brother, glasses and all, smiling and playing in the sun. Under the picture it reads:
Saree Jake for beein meen. Fram Breck To Jake
For those not used to Kindergarten Speak, I’ll translate. “Sorry Jake for being mean. From Breck. To Jake.”
In that moment I breathed a little sigh of relief, pride and shame all at the same time.
- Relief that he had truly realized he owed his brother an apology.
- Pride that he had figured out how to apologize on his own and had found a meaningful way to do it.
- Shame, that as an adult, I rarely have found the words or the gestures to ask those I have wronged in such a simple, eloquent way for forgiveness.
I am grateful for this little life lesson from my son…and I challenge myself to learn by his example.
Now it is your turn…is there anyone you have wronged that needs an apology from you? Do you have similar stories of forgiveness? What’s your story?
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