I’m So Very Sorry

“I love watching TV. Are there any good examples of the process of forgiveness on air now? What lessons of forgiveness are important for me to know?”

Ø Jarrod C., Oklahoma City, OK

A: From 1993 to 2000, the popular series Boy Meets World dealt with the life of Cory Matthews (as well his interaction with his best friend, the street-wise Shawn and girlfriend, Topanga) in Philadelphia, PA. Fourteen years later, Disney’s sequel to Boy Meets World is Girl Meets World.

In Girl Meets World, Cory and Topanga are married. Cory is a history teacher at the middle school of his daughter, Riley, in New York. Riley’s wise good friend, Maya, plays much the same role as Shawn did for Cory in Boy Meets World.

The younger elementary-age son (as well as the actor playing him) is named, “August” (The character’s nickname is Auggie). Topanga is a successful lawyer and owns a bakery as well.

The episode, “Girl Meets the Forgiveness Project” is described as: [Cory gives his class] an assignment in which they must practice the act of forgiving, so Maya decides to write a letter to her [estranged] father to forgive him for leaving, and Riley tries to forgive Auggie for destroying something she valued[a teddy bear].

This installment provided important lessons in giving out and receiving forgiveness. When a parent leaves the family, it usually has absolutely nothing to do with the children. (It’s often a marital matter between them.)

Before you can forgive others, pardon yourself (with God’s help). You are worth it. True forgiveness may be difficult to do. It may not happen instantaneously, but instead it may take years to be fully realized.

Pardon can often be easier to administer if there is an attempt to understand why the offender did the “dirty” deed. Real absolution of a matter does not allow for it to be constantly brought up (though it may remain in the memory for a very long time).

The Bible puts it this way in Ephesians 4:31-32 (MSG):”Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, and profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”

If the Heavenly Father has given you many second chances, why not administer forgiveness to someone else? (You can give exoneration even if the person is dead, or is unwilling to say what you need to hear.) I guarantee it will lighten your load (of anger) emotionally. You will be able to live life to the fullest once again.