So, as those who have been chosen of God,
holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience;
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone;
just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
– Colossians 4:13
Racheal is a fair-skinned beauty with strawberry blonde hair.
Her husband Leo is strong, gentle, and Native American. Together they have been blessed with a many-hued quiver of children.
This week they were shopping at a local store in a larger town and passed by a couple of Caucasian teen-aged boys. The boys smiled sweetly at Racheal, but when her husband passed them, one of the boys raised his hand to his mouth in a mocking war whoop imitation of a cartoon Indian.
Racheal didn’t see what happened. Leo was shocked by the taunt but didn’t acknowledge it. As a policeman, he deals with people making bad choices every day. As a Christian, he understands that racism is a heart condition. On the way out to their car, he told Racheal what happened.
Although they were shaken at the humiliation, Leo and Racheal knew that rather than react in anger, they needed to use this moment to teach their children the importance of breaking the cycle of hate. Out in the car, they explained to the children that all white people aren’t like that. They told the children that it’s important not to judge an entire race by the actions of a few. They talked to them about celebrating the differences in people, in respecting the kaleidoscope of colors and cultures God has used in fashioning us.
What wisdom! As much as what the children heard from Leo and Racheal, they will be shaped by watching their parents respond with grace to an ugly situation. They will not soon forget the living lesson of forgiveness.
In this life, we will invariably find ourselves in situations in which we are humiliated by the unthinking actions of others.
Sometimes the offense is merely an aggravation. Other times, it cuts to the core of who we are and shatters us into little shards of pain.
Forgiveness is the beautiful that happens when Christ gathers us up and shines His light through the bits of brokenness we have become, moving and turning us as we are shaped by His hand:
A living kaleidoscope.
