How do you explain?

(Bringing up the young)

“Mum, did he really say that? I mean, in real life? Did he REALLY say that?”
I look at my son, puzzled. I’m tucking him in for the night.
“Did who say what, sweetheart?”
“Jesus, when they were torturing him. Did he really ask God to forgive them?”
I smile. I understand him now. Yesterday it was his first day in secondary school. They were reading The Bible. Even though we are regular churchgoers and he is an active member of Trackers, he is only now starting to comprehend it.
“Yes, he did.”
“Did God forgive them for what they’ve done to him?”
“Yes, he did…”

He pauses, biting his lower lip, thinks for a while.
“Mum?”
“Yes, darling?”
“If they did that to me, I would probably forgive them. But, you know… if they did that to you, or Dad, or my sister, I couldn’t!” He was adamant.

I kiss his forehead. How do you explain to a 12-year-old boy that this is what it’s all about? How do you tell him, how important forgiving is and how can you convince him, when sometimes, deep down inside you are not really confident, how to do it yourself?
“Don’t think about him suffering. Think about him watching over you while you sleep!”
“Good night Mum. I love you!”
“I love you too. Good night.”

How do you explain to a 12-year-old boy that this is what it’s all about? How do you tell him, how important loving each other is and how do you teach him about it?
“This is easy,” says my husband, when I tell him what happened, “I think we have already taught him that!”

Sanja Moore


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Last revised 1st january 2005