Forgiving Challenge Kids: The 11-Day Forgiveness AdventureSample

How Do We Step Up into Freedom?

A young girl named Pascale Kavanagh grew up with a mean and cruel mother. She called Pascale names, hit her, and even threw plates at her. Her mother's deep rage came from her own childhood of being hurt. The only thing that her mom knew how to do was hurt others.

After Pascale grew up, she was very angry with her mother and kept as far away from her as possible. But one day, the hospital called and said that her mother suffered a stroke and could no longer talk or walk. Pascale went to visit her mother, but she was still very hurt. She did not know how she could forgive her for all the pain she caused. But as Pascale sat by her bed, read her books, and held her hand, suddenly all her anger went away. After that, Pascale cared for her mother and ensured she had the best care.

"I see now that forgiveness is not so much about what you receive from people," she says, "but what you give them."

Pascale had not just learned to receive forgiveness for herself, but she knew how to give it away.

This is what God wants us to learn to do as well. When we miss the mark, Jesus invites us to allow Him into the worst parts of our stories. It is there we will hear His words of forgiveness over our deepest, darkest, and shame-filled places. He will enter into your worst moments with you. Jesus is waiting for you. He's the surgeon you need to heal. Before you move forward, Jesus wants you to receive the confidence that can only come from His forgiveness.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:13-14

Not only have we been given many good gifts to use, but Jesus has wholly forgiven us. After being forgiven, Jesus wants us to share that gift of forgiveness with others.

One of the most amazing parts about the disciple Peter's story is that after He had failed Jesus by denying Him three times, He would use that same mouth to preach for decades on end about the goodness of our God. In doing so, Peter experienced a type of freedom that is available to everyone in this world.

True freedom comes when we join with Jesus in bringing His kingdom to this Earth right now. One of the best ways to show Jesus to the world is by learning to forgive those who hurt us. ​A forgiven person is a forgiving person. So, as you have been forgiven, go and forgive others.

Challenge: You have been forgiven…what a gift! You thought about some of the gifts or talents you have been given on Day 10. Pick one that you can use today. It just may be that the gift you share with someone is forgiveness.

Call-to-Action: If you or your child enjoyed this 11-day challenge to become a greater disciple of Jesus, consider taking it a step further with the 40-day Forgiving Challenge Kids available here. Or talk to your pastor, children's minister, or teacher about using this 40-day resource with an entire church, ministry, or school. More info is found here on using this resource in this powerful way.