Saying “We Are Forgiving” shows that as a community, we practice forgiveness. It’s not just something we think is important, it’s something we try to do.

It’s helpful to remember that forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting or excusing the wrong.

It means choosing to move forward with a heart that seeks reconciliation and peace.

What do you think reconciliation and peace looks like?

Now, invite someone to read this poem aloud. Then, share with the people around you what inspired you from the words and how it made you feel.

Sometimes words hit harder than a storm.
Sometimes friends turn into strangers in the blink of an eye.
Sometimes we hold on, clutching anger like it’s a shield,
But all it really does is weigh us down.

What if forgiveness wasn’t about forgetting?
What if it wasn’t about saying “it’s okay” when it hurts?
What if it was about freedom – freeing your heart,
Letting go of the stuff that keeps you down?

Jesus taught us to forgive.
Not just the easy stuff, not just the “sorry I bumped your shoulder,”
But the hard stuff – the words that sting,
The mistakes that hurt deeply,
The moments when it feels impossible.

Because forgiveness isn’t just for them.
It’s for you.
It’s for your peace, your smile, your sleep at night.
It’s saying: I’m done carrying this weight. I choose love. I choose hope.

Forgiveness isn’t weakness.
It’s courage.
It’s strength.
It’s faith in something bigger than ourselves.
It’s a light in the dark saying,
We are better together than we are divided.

So, when the anger rises, when the hurt feels too heavy,
Remember: you don’t have to carry it forever.
You can choose peace.
You can choose love.
You can choose forgiveness.

Once you’ve had a chat about the poem, let’s pray to finish:

Lord, help us to be forgiving. Teach us to let go of anger and hurt, and to embrace peace in our hearts. Give us the courage to forgive as You forgive, and the strength to love even when it’s hard. May our words and actions reflect Your love to everyone we meet.

Amen.

* Image from Freepik