TRUE FORGIVENESS!

There was this certain father who had two sons one older and a younger yet close in age. The elder brother was always finding fault with the younger and like wise the younger with the elder. One day a match of strength broke out between the two boys and the father’s prized clock given to him by his grandfather was smashed.

When the damaged clock was found by the father, he summon for the two sons. The two boys appeared before the father and were asked to give their account on how the prized clock had been smashed. The elder son gave his account first, he explained how he could not  possibly be held responsible for it was damaged during his bout with his younger brother. In the elder’s son account he managed to find the fault of the damage with his younger brother. The younger son’s story was some what the same only he too had the fault falling upon his older brother.

The father in his wisdom said, “I am unable to determine who is at fault at this time. So I need for you not to speak to one another nor see one another for the next hour. I want you to go to separate places and judge the punishment I should give out to your brother for damaging my clock. After which time I shall listen to the judgement you have placed on one another. Then I will give you my decision on who is guilty or not and hand out your punishments.”

After one hour the boys returned heads hanging low and unable to look at their father in his eyes. He spoke to the elder son, “What do you have to say? What punishment, what judgement have you placed upon your brother’s head for you have found him guilty of smashing my grandfather’s clock.

The elder son spoke. “My brother is the one who is always provoking   me to defend myself. He should be punished by giving up his allowance until the repair of the clock is paid in full. He needs to be grounded for six weeks from all things he enjoys.”

The father replied, “Very well. Now my younger son what judgement have you come up with against your brother. For you also found him guilty of smashing my grandfather’s clock?”

The younger son began with a tearful voice, “It is true I do provoke my brother and he also me. It is true I am guilty of the damage to the clock. Father I wish to forgive my brother of the crime we have committed against you. I will take the blame alone for I have forgiven him of the acts he has done to me. Please do not punish my brother for this?”

The Father looked at his two sons both with their heads now even lower and replied, “Very well. My eldest please go and get my Bible.”

The eldest son returned shortly with his father’s Bible and went to hand it to his father. The father did not take the Bible. Instead he said to him, “Turn to Luke 6:37, and read to verse 42. ”

The eldest read with a cracking voice, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” 

And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own? Or how can you say to brother. ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye.’ when you yourself do not see the plank in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

The boy closed the Bible and handed it to his father and stepped back  waiting for the coming judgement.

The father then with authority announced his ruling, “My youngest, I find you guilty of damaging my grandfather’s clock.  Son because you did not judge your brother and did not condemn him and ask for him to be forgiven; I now forgive you of your misconduct I will not punish you. My eldest son I find you guilty of damaging my grandfather’s clock. Son because you did judge your brother and you did condemn your brother with the same measure I will pronounce your punishment: You will forfeit your allowance till two times the value of the clock is paid. You be grounded for twelve weeks and the only thing you can do are the chores around this place. That is all now go.”

The youngest son asked, “May I speak father?” His father nodded yes, so he made a tearful plea, “Father if I ask of you again would you please forgive my brother because you love me? If I ask again would you please forgive my brother because I love him? If I ask again would you please forgive my brother because you love him? Would you please?”

With tears in his eyes and joy in his heart the father cried, “Yes I forgive you both, Yes I love you both! You are forgiven.” He then grabbed his boys and hugged them and kissed them. After which he carried his grandfather’s clock out and pitched it in the trash and never thought of it again.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

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