A prior to forgive wrongs by Meg Booker, read by Leah Martin.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister

who sins against me?

Up to seven times?

Jesus answered.

I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 18, 21 through 22.

Mom, my oldest said, in her most mature voice as she walked up to my pool chair notebook

in hand.

What do you want to talk to me about, I asked?

Already knowing the answer was either, a ploy to get something she didn't already have,

or a surefire way to get her little sister in trouble.

I just think you need to be aware of what she's done at the pool today.

Though no alerts had pinged my mama radar, my eldest daughter proceeded to rattle off a very

nitpicky list of things that annoyed her about her little sister.

As today's verse instructs us, we're not to keep a running list of wrongs in our heads,

but to forgive and release who and what has hurt us.

Of course, boundaries are important, very, very important, but they do not negate forgiveness.

In Peter's defense, there was an actual number of times that Judaism taught its followers

as enough to forgive, but Jesus spoke of a more excellent way.

We are not to withhold forgiveness ever.

We forgive and leave the one who has hurt us in God's hands, who is the only one capable

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