They are all in the news this year as an estimated one trillion of the insects will emerge in the next few weeks. Brood X is one of several periodical cicadas that show up every 17 years in just a few states in the eastern United States. Before you can really enjoy them though, it’s best to know a few interesting facts about cicadas.
Where do they come from? From underground of course! Read fact #5. They look scary! Do they bite? Only a little, no, just kidding they don’t bite. Read fact #1. What is the most interesting fact about cicadas? Read fact #4 to find out!
I put together just 7 of the must-know interesting facts about Cicadas, but don’t stop there. Go on a curiosity quest and find out more!
1. First Interesting Fact About Cicadas, They Do Not Bite or Sting
Important facts first! No, they do not bite or sting. They are harmless to humans. Knowing this fact is key to discovering even more about them. So go ahead and pick one up. Get close and curious!
Juvenile cicada having just emerged from the ground looking for a tree or high spot to molt.
2. There Are Over 3,000 Different Kinds of Cicadas
There are many different kinds of cicadas in the world. They are found on every continent except for Antarctica. The ones that seem to get the most attention though are from the Magicicada genus which contain the common periodical cicadas found in North America.
The much-hyped Brood X of 2021 is commonly known as the Pharaoh Cicada, known for it’s red-orange eyes and distinct courting call that sounds like “whheaay…oooh” whheaay…oooh”. Go ahead and try it. It’s fun!
3. Cicada Sounds Can Reach 100-120 Decibels
So how loud are they? Some have been reported to be over 100 decibels, possibly reaching 120 decibels. To put it into perspective, in comparison, a lawnmower may be 80-85 decibels. A motorcycle can be over 95 decibels. An approaching train or football game full of cheering fans can reach 100 decibels. Standing beside or near sirens can exceed 120 decibels.
So if you get an entire chorus of these little guys going and you might need some earplugs!
Adult cicada emerges from its hard exoskeleton shell.
4. The Most Interesting Fact About Cicadas is They Are Some of the Longest Living Insects
This might be the most interesting fact about cicadas in my opinion! In the bug world living for a few months is an amazing feat. Most bugs are happy to survive a few weeks. So, to have an insect live for 17 years is mind blowing! And they are not in a dormant or hibernation state during this time. They are active and growing.
Think of it this way. They outlive most dogs and cats.
They hatch from their eggs six-10 weeks after they are laid. The new nymphs drop to the ground and then live under ground for up to 17 years (there are also 13-year broods). During this 17-year growth period they molt up to five times by shedding their old skin and emerging a little larger.
Finally, after 17 years and when the ground gets to precisely 64 degrees they emerge from the earth.
They climb up, shed their skin one final time and now with wings they fly off to find a mate. They also use those wings to make the ear-splitting sounds mentioned above.
5. They Spend the Majority of Their Lives Eating Tree Sap from Roots
During their underground nymph stage, they live off the root systems of trees being nurtured by the tree itself for years. They really enjoy xylem, a tissue in the tree that transports moisture and nutrients from the soil to the rest of the tree.
Keeping old growth forests safe and healthy are important as cicadas who lose their host tree are likely to die before having a chance to emerge.
6. They Are Often Confused as Being Locust
True locust swarms are actually of the grasshopper family and will eat almost any vegetation they come across. Cicadas however spend most of their life under ground and when they do emerge and become adults they are mostly interested in finding a mate before they eventually die a few weeks after reaching adulthood. During that time, they are mostly harmless to vegetation and actually provide a great source of food to many other species.
Newly emerged adult drying out its wings for flight.
7. Yes…They Are Edible
We all know this has been nagging at the back of your mind (or maybe the pit of your stomach) as you have been reading this post. Of all the interesting facts about cicadas, what I really need to know is…can I eat them?
Yes! Not only are they edible for birds, raccoons, lizards, and snakes, they can be enjoyed by humans.
I personally have not tried one yet…but I might give Brood X a chance…maybe. I have heard they taste like shrimp, but since I don’t know that for a fact, I will let you tell me. Leave a comment if you have tried them out. Maybe you can convince me to give one a try, or, maybe I will be satisfied and satiated with just knowing a few facts about them!
Let’s face it, adults have a hard time forgiving and in theory we have the ability to utilize rational thought. So how do you empower children to forgive when they are prone to be emotional and egocentric?
Like most worthwhile things in life, it takes time and effort. A critical aspect of teaching children to forgive is to be intentional on approaching the subject. Model a forgiving spirit towards them and others. Focus on them as a person and help them to do the same to others. If at first, they are not getting it, don’t force it, allow them to internalize the practice. Finally, teach them it is for their benefit just as much as it is for those around them.
Let’s jump in and explore the topic of character building in general and then specifically the subject of how to teach children to forgive.
Have you ever considered how much time is placed on intentionally teaching children random facts about the world, history, and other subjects? Think about it. We don’t blink an eye about children spending many hundreds of hours and years studying history. We actually expect them to have spent years of their life cultivating science facts and even practicing scientific experiments. Similarly the expectation is that math skills begin before even going to preschool and culminates some 13 or 14 years later with high school graduation. Then there’s college…
How much time is intentionally devoted to teaching character traits? No really, I’m not talking about the nice kindergarten teacher who enforces the rule that everyone must say please and thank you. I’m talking about real character traits. How is it that entire semesters can be focused on a single subject but virtues and character can be totally ignored?
I’ll play devil’s advocate for a moment and say, perhaps it’s not the responsibility of the school system to teach virtue. I don’t necessarily believe that, but for the sake of argument let’s assume it is true. Who then is responsible for teaching it?
You are!
Wait! Before you panic, or turn away frustrated because you don’t need one more burden on your shoulders, read just a little further. Take a moment to consider the real implications here. Just because teaching character is important and falls into your realm, does not mean that it has to be complicated and rigid.
Model forgiveness to your children. That means you have to be intentional with it. That means we as adults have to be continually developing our own character. If you are not actively modeling character development then you are essentially propagating the old “do as I say, not as I do” type parenting.
The Center for Parenting Education outlines that what you do and how you behave as an adult tends to be the biggest influence on how your children act. So teach your children to forgive by letting them see you ask for forgiveness.
Take a moment right now and think of something you should ask forgiveness for. Perhaps an unkind word. Or a hurried remark. Or distracted moment where you ignored or marginalized you child. Surely you can think of something, if not please leave a comment below so we can learn character building from you!
Now, once you are done reading this post, go and ask forgiveness for that action. Your child may not even remember it so you may have to remind them. Ask them how they felt and then, make the plunge and ask them to forgive you. Then, intentionally do this each time you do something that does not measure up to your own standard of character. If you do this consistently, your children will follow your lead, or it will at least make for easier conversations as you walk the walk…
2. Keep Everything in Context
Help children understand that seeking forgiveness does not excuse the wrongdoing. Furthermore, it may not eliminate the consequence. But forgiveness is still needed. If it is a minor thing then don’t make it into a big deal, however, at the same time do not make it into a smaller deal either. Create a family culture that acknowledges wrongdoing for what it is.
Do not inflate or deflate the situation too much either direction. It is important for a child to learn that actions and words have meaning and consequence to the individual who is hurt or wronged. So, if you want to teach them the meaning of true forgiveness you have to make sure they understand the seriousness of the action or words. As a parent you may have to provide that context for them.
3. Focus on the Person and Help Them Move Beyond the Situation
Let’s face it. It is easy to focus on the situation at hand. I remember times where my children fought over small things like old shirts, one not wanting to share with the other even though they had outgrown the item. I found myself angry at the seemingly calloused materialism (so I thought) of the situation, that in my parenting brilliance of the moment I lost my temper and threatened to throw it away.
After a berating lecture on selfishness and pettiness, I finally took a breath to let my daughter speak and she said she was sorry. Then through tears she expressed she didn’t so much care about the shirt as much about the fact that she wasn’t ready for her sister to grow up. Then expressed that she wasn’t ready to grow up either.
Even Parents Need to Work on Character Development…
What a sobering moment! Here I was, the one focused on the situation, and totally out of touch with deeper issues below the surface. I was given the opportunity to put step 1 (above) into practice…and step 2…
The next time you find yourself in a situation where forgiveness is in order, remind yourself that the person is the focus, not the situation.
There is no soul inside the broken lamp, or unshared bike, however, there is a soul inside the people involved in the situation. Even as grown-ups, with grown-up disputes this is important to remember.
Teach your children early to focus on the other person and minimize the situation. Do this by asking them if they have ever felt hurt or frustrated. Let them express their feelings and then encourage them to see the situation from the other persons viewpoint. Finally ask them how they would feel if they where in a similar situation and someone loved and forgave them regardless of what they had done. It may not work the first time, or every time, but it will work eventually.
4. Don’t Force the Situation
There will be times when a child will flat out refuse to offer forgiveness. Or perhaps even more dangerous, offer a form of insincere forgiveness. I would say it is more important that a child understand forgiveness rather than go through the motions of something disingenuousness.
So let the situation cool off a little and then revisit it. Remember you don’t want to make an offense less than it is so just casually bring it up later in the evening or the next day. Once they have had a chance to process it without the emotion, it may be easier to help them to put it into context and understand it. Plus it may give you the chance to see what other unresolved issues need to be addresses. Remember, intentionality is key! So, make a point to have frequent conversations.
5. Practice Proactive Teaching
Being intentional about teaching character only takes a few minutes here and there, but it is best to not wait until a situation has developed and blown up. Talk about it before hand. In the 60 seconds it takes for everyone to unbuckle and get out of the car before visiting the playground or a friend just run through a quick lesson.
“Hey guys, what is the golden rule?”
“What are you going to do if you accidently hurt someone or their feelings today?”
“I want you to keep your eyes open and see if you can find someone practicing forgiveness today. Then we can talk about it during dinner.”
Intentional. Simple. Lasting.
6. Leverage Examples from Others
Everyday we see character, or the lack there of, all around us. As you become more intentional in building character, you will naturally see opportunities to capitalize on learning opportunities. An easy place to start is talking about the good and bad behavior seen in others. But also take a moment to talk through scenes from movies or shows. In today’s world of being able to pause anything, anytime, take advantage of technology and just stop and talk about it right then.
You can do the same with books. We have recently been reading the Little House series at night and we see places where we can talk about character flaws and strengths. We were just reading about little Rose (Laura Ingalls daughter) and how she accidently got her friend in trouble. For a good portion of the book their friendship was nearly non-existent or hostile due to a lack of forgiveness. Don’t let these golden opportunities pass you by.
Character is Not Made Overnight
Building good character is a life-long endeavor. As parents we control the critical years so don’t waste the opportunities to mold a foundation that will last.
The first thing to remember is, when it comes to forgiveness, be intentional. Don’t wait for them to figure it out on their own.
Step through the process with them. Illustrate character by modeling a forgiving spirit yourself.
Help them to keep it in context by you doing the same. Furthermore, be genuine, don’t allow offenses to be swept under the rug.
In particular, help your children to focus on the person and not the situation. Treat others as they want to be treated. Don’t force them to say things they don’t mean, but do keep talking about it until they understand the significance.
Take the time to be proactive. Coach them before an event happens.
Finally, leverage other people and their experiences along with movies and books to help guide discussions on what is wrong and right.
It will take time, but it is worth the time. Character will last a lifetime!
What does the Bible say about forgiveness? What are some examples of forgiveness? Are there particular stories or verses that one can read and be assured of the importance of giving and receiving forgiveness? We will cover all of these questions and more as we look into the need and value of forgiveness.
Feel free to jump ahead using the table of contents below if you want skip stories you are familiar with or perhaps read it all the way through to be reminded of an old truth or discover a new one.
Is Forgiveness Outdated and Old Fashioned?
Maintaining right relationships with other people is rarely valued, especially in today’s fast paced world. In fact, the opposite is true. If anything, what is valued is making the person who offended you pay. Whether it is settling a nasty divorce or leaving a 1 star rating on a restaurant review, people today show very little mercy and forgiveness. Wounded people drag their offenders into the arena of public opinion and counter attack on social media platforms and in constant conversations with whomever will listen to them. People drop “friends” for minor offenses and discarded them in search for someone else. It seems people put more care into their car, their pet, or even clothes than they do their relationships. The art of forgiveness appears lost and countercultural in the fast pace of today’s “me-centric” world.
When it comes to forgiveness when raising children and cultivating strong families and communities, one must consider, is there value in teaching forgiveness, and if so, how?
(Find out more about why we care about cultivating strong families by reading A Better Family)
Love and Forgiveness are Related
For Christians, one of the cornerstone characteristics of God is the concept of love. In a way, love can be defined as caring for and wanting the best for someone else, even when that person is selfish or offends you. Think about it. It is easy to love someone who loves you back, and is even easier when that person still wants the best for you on your worst day. Our Heavenly Father is love. He loves us so much that He is willing to forgive us of a multitude of personal offenses against Him. It is no wonder that right next to the cornerstone concept of love, is the concept of forgiveness.
Proverbs 17:9 says “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Grasp hold of this truth; forgiveness and love go hand-in-hand. Love prospers when forgiveness is provided. Christians should love as God loved. In the beloved passage of John 3, we treasure the fact that God so loved the world, that he offered forgiveness to anyone who sought it. Forgive those who seek it. Make love prosper through forgiveness. Peter the apostle said it even better, “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
So, is forgiveness still necessary in today’s culture?
Not just yes, but maybe more so than ever.
So, what are a few examples of Bible stories on the subject of forgiveness? How does one learn these truths for oneself and also teach them to others, especially children? Let’s take a few minutes to explore some of the more beloved stories on forgiveness.
Forgiveness is Most Powerful, When it is Least Expected
Jacob and Esau grew up as favorites, one to their father and the other to their mother. This caused strife within the family and resulted in a tangled web of lies, deceit, and eventual estrangement. Jacob stole the family blessing and then fled in danger of his life as his brother nurtured a stance of hate towards Jacob and eventually vowed to kill him.
As a result Jacob would spend years away from family living in other lands and slowly growing his own fortune and family. After years of being away, God moves him back towards the land of his family, and towards Esau. A frightened Jacob expects Esau to fulfill his vow of judgment upon him. Jacob knows what he deserves and he expects it. However, the unexpected happens. He is greeted with open arms instead of the sword. His brother extends forgiveness instead of judgment. He offers peace instead of pain.
To Forgive is To Be Like God
Jacob’s response is powerfully insightful. After their tearful embrace he tells Esau “For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably” (Genesis 33:10). Extending unmerited forgiveness is powerful. Jacob knew what he had done was wrong. He expected some form of judgement. Should his brother take portions of his flocks and wealth? Would he still want to take his life? Jacob was given a loving embrace instead of the expected death. This caused Jacob to see the face of God in his brother.
To love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable is to manifest within oneself the very characteristics of God. That is immensely powerful!
Forgiveness Enables Reconciliation
Within the Old Testament, the story of Joseph is a wonderful story on many levels. It is loaded with family drama, of broken people following selfish agendas, of fathers playing favorites, blended families, boasting, jealousy, grudges, hate, schemes, lies, power, and heartache. But on the other hand it also shines with courage, moral virtues, personal character, trust, faithfulness, reconciliation, duty, love, tenderness, joy, and of course forgiveness.
Most people are familiar with the story, if you are not, you can find it in Genesis, chapters 37-50. We are unable to capture its depth and richness in a few paragraphs, but I do want to highlight a couple of key takeaways from this story.
We Are All Flawed By Sin
All the characters in this story are flawed and are in need of forgiveness. This is a key principle to hold onto as we talk through the idea of forgiveness. It will be the lynch pin of all the following stories and verses and is quite frankly the lynchpin of the entire Bible and its story of Redemption. Everyone is flawed. You fail to measure up. I have sinned. Therefor everyone is in need of forgiveness.
Even Joseph was marred by pride and boasting. There was something inside of him that desired to be the greatest among his brothers. He flaunted it. The story centers on Joseph being his father’s favorite son. As a result Joseph is given a magnificent coat of many colors. A sign of favor and wealth that Joseph willingly flaunted in front of his brothers. He paraded before his brothers the dreams he had that told of how they should all bow down to him. Yes, not even Joseph was innocent in the story, he, like all of us was flawed and in need of forgiveness.
Do Not Let Hurts Fester
One could even argue that Joseph should have been the instigator of seeking forgiveness. You see, Joseph’s brothers did not beat him, devise a path towards murder, and eventually sell him as a slave based upon a single instance of rage or disagreement. No, this was something that festered for a long time. Grown men driven to wits end by a young boy. This is a family culture that did not value forgiveness.
Ironically Jacob, Joseph’s father, has his own forgiveness story that he apparently had not learned from. Jacob does not appear to try and instill forgiveness into the family culture. As a result, beneath the surface, resentment and selfishness reigned.
Seeking Forgiveness Must be Intentional
Families must diligently root out these issues early and often. Now, even Joseph will be the first to say that what his brothers meant for evil, God meant for good. Our Heavenly Father is in the business of restoration, and reconciliation, but that does not mean that earthly fathers should be negligent in instilling forgiveness into the family way of life.
The story continues with Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery, lies being told and alibis being fabricated. A father’s heart is broken and brothers live in guilt for years. The thing to take away from this part of the story is that lack of forgiveness results in bitterness. And bitterness destroys. It destroys relationships, it destroys the individual, it destroys families, and it destroys communities. No doubt Joseph’s brothers had to daily face the grief of their father and live with the guilt of their actions. Even years later, when unknowingly confronted by Joseph as an Egyptian ruler, they begged not to have to leave Benjamin behind because their father would most likely die if something were to happen to him as the loss of Joseph had already drained him of life.
Focus on Forgiveness to Eliminate Undesirable Traits and Develop Worthy Ones
Families should openly discuss and ask about areas of forgiveness. Start with the little things and have the easy discussions. Things like hurt feelings at being left out, or verbal scolding’s that perhaps were unjustified. As parents we have to lead by example. Be the first to seek forgiveness if you come across as harsh or uninterested or distracted. One must practice these smaller daily activities in order to be open and ready to discuss the big ones in life. The Apostle Paul hands us an instructional passage on this topic in Ephesians 4:31 & 32.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Forgiveness is Not Easy
The amazing thing about these verses is that our Heavenly Father knows it is hard to get rid of bitterness, and rage, and malice. It is hard to think about not being in a rage when those feelings are bombarding you. It is hard to not be bitter when you have been wounded. It’s almost as if we have no control over those things in some ways. Emotions drive us to uncertain ends at times. But the scripture does provide us with something we can control. We can control the amount of kindness we show every day. Compassion can be controlled towards others. We can choose to forgive.
As a quick note, the Greek word for forgiveness is aphesis which literally means to send away or leave behind. To apply forgiveness is to remit (pardon or cancel) a debt or obligation. I like the way this is an action word, to send away or leave behind a grievance. But to leave something behind means to move towards something else.
Forgiveness is a Process and Every Process Requires that First Step
I see it as almost a progression. Being kind is a single action, chosen for a particular instance. The storms of life could be raging within and around and I can choose to be kind for a brief moment. Baby steps! Increase those moments every day. Find more ways to participate in acts of kindness.
Then, as I develop habits of kindness, something begins to grow within me. The act of kindness blossoms into something deeper and more meaningful. Compassion takes hold and I begin to care for that person or situation at a more profound level. I relate. I feel empathy and compulsion to do more, be more.
That matures into the ability to forgive others even when we are hurt at the deepest levels. True forgiveness is not easy. It is way beyond the playground exchange of “I’m sorry” and “that’s okay”. True forgiveness comes from a transformed life that loves others as one love themselves. It is actually a great mystery, but the formula is sound.
Forgiveness and Bitterness Reside at the End of Two Different Paths
Individuals who are practicing kindness, compassion and forgiveness, are not going to harbor bitterness, rage, brawling, slander, and malice. They occupy the same space within our souls. To hold on to one is to neglect the other. One cannot be a kind slanderer. Just like one cannot be a compassionate brawler. It is also not possible to be a bitter forgiver. Choose and nurture one, and the other will naturally become less and die. Follow Paul’s advice; focus on good and get rid of the unnecessary.
Jesus Teaches on Forgiveness
Christians sometimes gravitate towards the New Testament for most of their teaching, so what examples of forgiveness does our Lord Jesus Christ offer? A great starting point is his teaching from the sermon on the mount.
Importance of Forgiveness: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says if You Don’t Forgive, God Cannot Forgive You
Jesus teaches his followers how to pray the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew chapter 6. Specifically, in verse 14, he finishes the prayer with an instruction on the importance of forgiveness. He says if we forgive others when they sin against us, God will forgive us when we sin against him. But if we do not forgive, then God will not forgive. The importance of forgiveness is in having a willing heart. To imitate God is to forgive.
Forgive and Be Forgiven
The teaching is straight forward. Pray for forgiveness and forgive others. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Withhold forgiveness, and have forgiveness withheld from you. Like so much of the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, there are deeper layers beneath the basic teaching. In this case, the issue is one of the heart. Those who do not value their own grace will not forgive others. True grace is when a perfect God forgives sinful people.
How Many Times Should I Forgive?
To drive that point home, Jesus goes on to tell several stories emphasizing this truth. In Matthew 18:21 it says that “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, again going for the heart of the matter says, “not seven, but seventy-seven times!” A heart willing to count, is a heart not willing to forgive.
How Many Times Will God Forgive me?
The irony is that in hearing Jesus’s previous teaching, Peter is essentially asking, how many times is God willing to forgive me? That would have been a wonderful question. Jesus basically answers the question that Peter didn’t ask. He says forgive others and God will forgive you, and then he tells us to open the ledger book and offer unlimited forgiveness, essentially showing the God’s forgiveness is also endless.
Ah, but there is always someone with the statement that when Jesus said that, he didn’t take into account my particular situation. He doesn’t understand how bad this person was to me or what terrible actions they committed. Is that true though? Jesus followed Peter’s question with a parable. The parable of the unforgiving servant.
Importance of Forgiveness: In the Parable of the Debtors Jesus Points Out How Much We Are Forgiven so we Should Forgive as a Result of that if Nothing Else
A man owed a huge sum to the king. A sum so large that it would be impossible for him to ever pay it back in a lifetime of hard work by him and his family. The man begged and pleaded and promised to repay. The king had mercy and not only allowed him the chance to stay a free man, but he completely struck the debt from the recorded. The ledger books were stamped, paid in full.
As the joyous man made his way home, he ran into a fellow servant who owed him money, less than a year’s wage. He assaults his fellow servant and demands the money immediately. The man begged in a similar pattern to way the forgiven man had just pleaded and yet this wicked servant had no mercy. He threw him into prison until the debt was paid.
Forgiveness is Extending Unmerited Grace
The king found out and was angered by the wicked servant’s lack of forgiveness towards his fellow servant. He has the wicked servant thrown into jail forever. Then Jesus says “this is how my heavenly Father will treat you unless you forgive your brother and sister from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). God takes forgiveness seriously and so must we. To an infinitely Holy God our sins are infinitely egregious to the point of never being able to pay them off. Yet he shows us unwarranted, unexpected, and powerful grace and mercy. Can we really afford to hold petty grudges against each other?
The Culture of One’s Heart is Defined By the Extension or Withholding of Forgiveness
Just to hammer home the teaching to Peter, Jesus concludes the story by saying forgive from the heart. Forgiveness is not something you muster up the strength to offer once, or only in particular circumstances. Rather it is a condition or culture of the heart that constantly, consistently, and continuously forgives. Therefore, it requires training and nurturing. Teach your children at an early age to seek and extend forgiveness.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus told a similar, yet difference parable concerning two debtors. In Luke 7:41 Jesus is dining at the home of a Pharisee and tells of a moneylender who had two debtors, the first owing 500 denarii and the other owing 50 denarii. During the time that Jesus was telling the parable, a single denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer. So, the sum was again significant. As it turns out neither were able to pay. The moneylender ended up canceling both of their debts.
Jesus pointedly asked his host, which of these two is likely to love the moneylender more? The Pharisee answers that the one with the greater debt. Jesus agrees and then says this woman who has been anointing my feet with tears is showing great love because her sins are many. She has been forgiven much, therefore she loves much.
Great Forgiveness Equals Great Love
Do you find yourself struggling to love others the way God loves? The question you might want to ask is, am I forgiving the way God forgives? An even better question might be; have I truly considered how much I have been forgiven? The combination of these two stories show that that love we must forgive as we have been forgiven. We also must love and the only way to really learn to love is to realize how much we have been forgiven as well.
A person who is self-aware of the fact that they have been forgiven much, will love much. They will not have capacity within their hearts to withhold forgiveness to others or carry a grudge. Conversely, those who constantly bear grudges against other people have not come to understand their own status of forgiveness. God has canceled your debt! It was a debt you could never repay. You are free. Don’t imprison yourself with bitterness. Live free.
Importance of Forgiveness: In the Parable of the Prodigal Son Jesus Says Reconciliation Through Forgiveness is a Prize of Important Relationships
A little later on in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus provides another example of forgiveness. Perhaps one of the most well known in all the Bible. In the story of the prodigal son, Jesus highlights a few wonderful truths. First, he told a story that shows the calloused devastation of evil and sin upon relationships. The son, thinking only of himself and his selfish desires wishes his father were dead so he could spend his inheritance. Not being able to wait until his father dies, he instead asked for his inheritance early and then leaves the family to live a life of self-absorbed sin. The son willingly, intentionally, and systematically destroyed his relationship with his father.
Secondly, Jesus points towards reconciliation in that even though the son knew he had disowned his father and shamed him, he figured it would still be worthwhile to repair the relationship at least to the point of being a servant in his father’s house. One may not be to undue the terrible things one has done, but at least attempt to establish a lesser relationship if able.
Seek to Reconcile to Some Lesser Level if Nothing Else
For instance, a spouse who has left and filed for divorce, may not be able to reconcile to the point of entering back into a loving marriage with their spouse, but at least attempt to establish a friendship. Do not allow bitterness to further erode your soul.
Finally, the Lord Jesus concludes with the father restoring the relationship to not only what it was before, but to what it should have always been. He puts a robe on the son, and ring, and throws a party. He forgives fully with reckless abandon. This is of course is a parable of Jesus showing God’s forgiveness and love for us, as his children. Jesus sets the standard high!
Beyond Teaching, Jesus Modeled Forgiveness
Jesus set the standard not only in word but deed. On the day he was crucified, he was mocked relentlessly by those in authority, by those who had days before praised his coming as the kingdom of heaven, by his neighbors, by strangers, even by two thieves condemned to die with him. Jesus confidently proclaimed his love for us and provided the perfect example of forgiveness. Jesus said “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) in the final moments of his life here on earth as God was pouring out the full cup of wrath for the sins of the world. One of the thieves sought that forgiveness and Jesus in turn forgave and promised that today they would be in paradise together.
Right Relationship With God
So then, the importance of forgiveness is being in a right relationship with God. At the end of the day, forgiving family, forgiving others, even forgiving oneself, only goes so far. You must be right with God through forgiveness of your sins. Seek God’s forgiveness for your own shortcomings and failures.
But can God really forgive me if I have done terrible things? How can I know that God will forgive?
Hold Fast to the Treasure of Truth
We have this beautiful promise that we can treasure and hold onto. The apostle John makes it abundantly clear of this, we all have sin, but if we seek forgiveness God will give it. It’s a promise.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
God is Love, Therefore He Forgives
We see here the nature of God. Trust God. He cannot lie. God cannot be unfaithful to his word. You can trust him to remain true to his character. He is also just. Meaning, as one without sins and being fully holy, only he can provide justice for wrong actions. When he offers forgiveness for our sins, he is not sweeping our sins under the rug and ignoring them. Jesus Christ paid our debt in full. God in his justice demanded a penalty for sin, and Jesus took it upon himself. This is the good news of the entire redemption story of the Bible!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
God’s love is for the whole world, so is his forgiveness. 1 John 2:2 says “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
God’s desire to offer us forgiveness comes from his love for us. Love is still relevant in today’s world. So is forgiveness. Our heavenly father loves us, therefore he forgives us. You too love, so you should forgive. You love your children, so teach them to forgive. By practicing forgiveness, you are loving others. Go out and love someone today!
Bible Verses on Forgiveness
Here are 11 additional Bible Verses on forgiveness to treasure in your heart.
Micah 7:19 – “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Isaiah 43:25 – “I, yes, I alone, will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”
Matthew 6:9-13 – The Lord’s Prayer – “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Gives us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to a time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
A Few Additional Verses
2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their humble ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Matthew 18:21-22 – “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.”
Psalm 86:5 – “You Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”
Micah 7:18 – “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”
1 John 2:2 – “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.”
Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Colossians 1:13-14 – “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Have you ever taken the time to discover your backyard? No, like really discover it! It never occurred to me how little I knew about what was going on in my yard. It also was not readily apparent how little I cared to know. My curiosity had been dulled by years of neglect. Follow along and see how exploring your yard can help you uncover your childhood inquisitiveness. Discover your curiosity!
This summer we discovered a fantastic find in our backyard. Like many of life’s adventures, it started with a simple question. I was sitting blissfully in my back yard, having just half-heartedly pulled some weeds growing into one of the flower beds. Out of nowhere my daughter asked,
“Dad, is that poison ivy?”
Not Poison Ivy, but rather Virginia Creeper
Discover Your Curiosity by Admitting the Extent of Your Current Knowledge
“Uh, no” I said with certainty. First off, I am an Eagle Scout after all and that tidbit of plant knowledge, along with a few skills like fire starting, map reading, and first aid, is forever seared in my mind. The follow-up question may have been avoided had I not taken the time to relay to my daughter that I was an Eagle Scout and knew what I was talking about after she gave me a doubtful glance.
“Then what is it?”
Busted.
In two questions I had reached the end of my rather short botanical rope. But the end of that road led to a door. A door in which I could discover my curiosity again, like when I was five years old.
Discover Your Curiosity by Embracing Potential Opportunities
“I don’t know…”
It was in that moment that I looked around my yard and realized what a passive observer I am in a world begging for active interaction. By urban standards it was a modest yard. It is just slightly over 15ft by 30ft with a third of that area covered by a patio. As I glanced around it through fresh eyes though, I suddenly felt like I was on the Lewis and Clark expedition staring across the plains of the American West. In that moment I had a chance, I could move on with the chores of the day or embrace discovery.
Discover Your Curiosity by Diving In Wherever You Are
Like so many times before I was tempted to go about my day, but for some reason I was arrested by the moment. The façade of knowledge was too apparent in the moment. The pretending was not just stunting my own development but also the development of my children. Something snapped and I got down on my hands and knees and a smile spread across my face and I said
“I know, let’s be explorers!”
1 Yard, 1 Weekend, 100 Species
For about a week the kids and I took a few minutes each day armed with a series of pencils, sketch pads, and the help of Google Lens and we started cataloguing our back yard. We quickly realized that for every one plant or insect we recorded dozens more unknown specimens were there alongside it waiting to be discovered.
Then the email came. A local foundation was hosting a Bioblitz
There’s an App for that: iNaturalist
I had never heard of a Bioblitz before, but someone in our homeschool group had posted the signup and what caught my attention was the call to explore and record the natural world of your neighborhood. Families were encouraged to download a free app called iNatualist, and use the app to record their discoveries. The app uses AI and pictures uploaded by hundreds of users to quickly identify a specimen. We spent the entire weekend exploring and loved it!
A Whole New World In Which to Discover Your Curiosity
Greenhouse or Garden Millipede
We found that taking a walk every day became a priority. We also found that slowing down became a priority. It was amazing how much there was to see once you slowed down and looked. We would use the app to snap a few pictures of a mushroom, then by the time I hit save someone had found a centipede. A few more photos. “Look over here, there is something hiding in this bark”. Another photo. “I found berries on this bush!” Where we once could zip around our neighborhood in a few minutes, suddenly we hadn’t made it 100 yards.
Discover Your Curiosity by Soaking It In
Rice Stinkbug rescued from the pool.
The fun didn’t end once we returned from our many walks. We would gather around and begin the identification process. The iNaturalist app provides a recommendation with multiple alternatives. We found ourselves flipping back and forth, trying to decide if our bug had the right features to make it a Marmorated stinkbug, or a Rough stinkbug. We chose the one we thought best and then waited. Soon, sometimes within minutes, and sometimes after weeks, other users would comment and provide their identifications. An entomologist from Arizona gently pointed out why our stinkbug was actually a Rough stinkbug. Three days later I found a small bug that even iNaturalist had trouble identifying. I tagged the Arizona entomologist in the observation and by the next morning we had identified a Rice Stinkbug as the culprit in the photo soaking up the sun on the side of the pool.
Discover your Community
The more we discovered over the next few weeks, the more we realized we didn’t know very much. There are people out there who do though, and the community who uses iNaturalist tends to be the kind who are more than happy teach you what they know. For instance, one day my daughter found a spider on the wall and where in the past there would have been screaming and running away, she hunted me down and said, “Dad I found a specimen for our app!” I’m not a fan of spiders but I took a picture, attempted to identify it but was dismayed by the many types of jumping spiders. I simply listed the observation as “spider” and left it. However, a few days later a user had identified it for me, and had listed it as an adult female.
What?
How?
Fear of Discovery Emboldens Ignorance, the Enemy of Curiosity
I hesitated for a moment, afraid of what I would find out, but much like my daughter’s curiosity in wanting to know what the vine, that wasn’t poison ivy, actually was, I tentatively wrote a comment in the observation saying, “How do you know that?”
“Because the females have a beard!”
Not what I was expecting, but I found myself relieved and further intrigued. That night, for the first time ever, I typed into Google, “How to identify jumping spiders”. Sure enough, they have beards. Although more of a mustache than a beard when you look closely. Who knew? The community!
Full Circle
It was a great summer full of Grey Tree frogs, Meadow Katydids, Bald-faced hornets, British Soldier Lichen (my new favorite observation!) and 234 other species discovered in our little corner of the world.
British Soldier Lichen found growing on a wooden dock.
As winter approached, we walked the neighborhood with some friends. One of their children picked up a brown, dried up leaf, a relic of longer and warmer days. The little girl said it’s big and my daughter said, “it’s a Sycamore leaf, they get really big.” Their bark is smooth and peels off in mottled grey, green, brown pattern, and with that her eyes searched the surrounding area and across the park she pointed out a tall, grey and white stately tree and said, “from over there.” And she was right, we had logged several observations from that old lady, including a Chinese mantis.
A Mantis on a Sycamore leaf
Did you know you can tell the difference between male and female trees? You can, although Sycamores are monoecious, but that’s a story for another day.
Who knew!
So, have you ever taken the time to discover your own back yard? Why not?!
Next Steps
Admit the limits of your knowledge and don’t propagate and inoculate the idea that ignorance is acceptable.
Nurture your own curiosity! We moan about how little our children learn in school, and yet model to them everyday that we are comfortable with the limits of our own knowledge.
Walk around your yard and see if you can name even the trees that are there. Once you train your eyes to see the trees as individuals versus large patches of generic foliage, every drive down the road will yield a pleasant surprise.
Go slow. The slower you observe things the more you will see.
Get an app or tracking mechanism of some sort and start collecting! It reminds me baseball cards when I was younger, or Pokémon cards. The iNaturalist app allows me to view and manage a collection of species that I have personally identified.
Life is an adventure, embrace the journey. Some estimates contend there are 8.7 million different species of living things on earth. I have only identified 234 this summer. There is so much to learn, so turn off the screen and get out there!
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