Failures at home come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and weights. There are the small ones called mistakes, errors or goofs: breaking a piece of china, spilling catsup on a new shirt, ripping your jeans, stepping on your wife's foot (with golf shoes), failing to carry out the garbage.
There are the heavier, medium-sized packages of failure that hurt a little deeper: shouting at the kids (for the fourth time in one day), habitually promising something to your kids and then going back on your promise.
Then there are the cumbersome and heaviest of failures that leave us feeling crushed under the weight: a divorce, unfaithfulness, an estranged relationship, a rebellious teenager who thinks he is always right, physical or verbal abuse, failing to lead your wife and children spiritually.
How can families deal with big and little failures?
First, I think we've got to be truthful about our sins. The Bible calls this confession. When we confess a sin it means we agree with God concerning that sin and turn from it.
I need to confess my failure to God and to those I've offended and then change my mind about the sin. I just can't keep on sinning and take my sin's impact lightly.
Second, the Scriptures teach that we've got to forgive. Forgiveness is not optional equipment in the Christian life. We are commanded to forgive because we've been forgiven.
To forgive others means we give up the right to punish them. We no longer hold the offenses against them.
Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity. Your marriage, and mine, must be the union of two people who are not willing for anything to come between them.
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