Memory Gem: “Do not be angry with each other but forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, then forgive him. Forgive each other because the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13, ICB).
Juni was just getting ready for bed when his papa’s heavy footsteps were thumping up the stairs. Immediately his body began to shake with fear as he quickly crawled under the bed. All of a sudden he felt a pair of strong hands pull him out from under the bed.
“Help! Help!” Juni yelled loudly as he tried to free himself from his papa’s hand, “Don’t hurt me! Please don’t hurt me!”
Before Juni could escape, Papa beat him.
“Don’t think you can escape from me! Ha! Ha! Ha! You’re just like your mama! Bad woman! Bad woman!” shouted papa as he was about to flop over, too drunk even to care. “You bad boy! Bad boy!”
The next day after Papa’s alcohol wore off, he felt bad about beating Juni. He was calm, but Juni was too terrified even to get near him.
For two years after Mama left, Juni’s father had been drinking himself to death. He thought he could cover up the pain of losing his wife, but the alcohol didn’t help. Instead, he beat Juni night after night. Poor boy!
“Lolo, Lola, please let me come and stay with you,” begged Juni. “I can’t take it anymore. He will kill me soon!”
“You poor boy, we must take you out of your father’s hands,” said Lolo and Lola adamantly.
Juni was grateful spending the rest of his teen years with Lolo and Lola. No more beatings! No more fear! No more injuries and bruises!
Years passed and Juni graduated from college. One day his grandparents approached him with a strange request.
“Juni, we didn’t tell you earlier. Your papa has been in jail and is very ill. Won’t you go and visit him?” asked Lolo and Lola earnestly.
“What? You want me to visit him? No way! He’s not my father, and I don’t have a father like him,” said Juni angrily.
“No matter what he has done, he’s still your papa. He started drinking only after your mama left,” Lolo explained kindly. “Do forgive him.”
“We will be praying for you that God will help you to forgive,” Lola said reassuringly, her Bible in her hand.
Finally, after months of struggling with himself, the day came for Juni to visit his father in jail. When they met, both father and son hugged each other, sobbing and crying.
“I’m so sorry, Son, for all the hurt I have caused you!” cried Papa.
“I forgive you, Papa! I forgive you!” wailed Juni with tears streaming down his face. It was indeed a joyful reunion! Forgiveness comes only through Jesus Christ.
DIVE IN DEEP
• What did Jesus mean when He said that we should forgive 70 times seven (Matthew 18:21, 22)?
• Why is it good for us to forgive, even though it’s difficult?
LIVE IT OUT!
• Pray for your friends or classmates who give you a hard time at school, so that you will learn to like them.
• Write an encouraging message to someone you don’t especially like.