Learning to say I'm sorry

You had a fight with a friend, and now it's time to make up. You aren't angry any more --but you still don't want to be the first person to say you're sorry!

It's easy to be stubborn about forgiving people and asking forgiveness, even when you miss your friend and want to see him again. Jesus would understand your problem; in this week's Gospel (John 20:19-31), He had the same trouble with one of His friends.

After Jesus died, the Apostles stayed in a room to talk about Him. They locked the door, but suddenly, Jesus came in anyway! "Peace be with you," He said, and He gave them the power to forgive sins. One Apostle, Thomas, wasn't there --and he didn't believe they saw Jesus. But a week later, Jesus came back when Thomas was there. "Thomas," He said, "believe in me." And Thomas did.

When you fight with a friend, it hurts. You might wish it never happened, but you can't change that it did. You'll always remember the mean things you said to each other.

Thomas got angry with Jesus, too. Jesus was his teacher and friend, and Jesus died. Thomas felt angry and wouldn't believe that Jesus would really come back. "I'll only believe it if I see Him," Thomas told everyone.

After a fight, you'll probably start to miss your friend. You want her back, but you don't know how to start over and forgive each other. Thomas didn't know how, either " he couldn't even say he was sorry for not believing in Jesus.

Sometimes, it takes another person being the first one to forgive to show us that we need to make up. Jesus came to Thomas and said, "See? Here I am. We don't need to fight any more. Let's be friends." Thomas felt ashamed for ever being angry with Jesus!

The next time you have a fight with a friend, remember Thomas. He spent a lot of time being angry that he didn't have to, just because he didn't want to say he was sorry.

But Jesus taught him --and us -- that it's more fun to be friends than be angry!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember that it's easier to say I'm sorry than to be angry forever. Amen!

(04-03-97)

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