A few weeks ago, my son visited with his daughter.  It was so good to spend time with them.  One of our favorite activities was pouring through boxes of “treasures.”  We found old photos, school reports, newspaper articles, toys, and cherished wedding and baptismal items.  Some were sentimental, others comical.

We found the doll that was my daughter’s favorite when she was a little girl.   The doll still spoke when the cord was pulled.  But then there was her golden hair.  Her two older brothers had once taken a scissors to the doll’s beautiful curly locks.  Let’s just say that their skill at barbering was not too good, and their poor little sister had been furious.

Now, fifty years later, the brothers still could banter about whose idea it was, who started it, why they did it, and who should have known better.   Fortunately, now in good fun.

It did make me think of other deeds done, mine included.  Why did I do that?  Whose fault was it?  Did someone else instigate it?  Do I still carry pangs of guilt for what I said or did?

Repent, says our Lord and accept his forgiveness.  Sometimes the latter part is the most difficult.  We hang on to our guilt, not able to accept the total forgiveness Jesus offers.   We can be encouraged by the words of this song by Rob Hayward, “I’m Accepted, I’m Forgiven.”  The God who loves you unconditionally holds out this forgiveness to you.  You don’t need to earn it.  You can’t earn it. You can only humbly bow and accept it.

Judy