Lenten Discipline

Just how hard is it to put oneself in the place of another and walk a mile in their shoes?  How hard it it to forgive and admit mistakes?  Two stories this week illustrate the grace of parties on either side of different issue in real and stunning ways.
Earlier this past week a woman was angry over her child's getting sick.  She didn't really understand the  causes of his illness, and that didn't matter to her.  He was so sick he was hospitalized, and here one does not go lightly into the hospital.  At 18 months of age he could not tell how he felt, but the fever and dehydration were all too evident.  The woman was terrified for his life.  She made some threats towards those she held accountable.  The threats were scary and real.  Then Suzy sat down with all concerned parties and feelings were aired.  The mother apologized to the daycare caregivers that she had overreacted, and the caregivers and staff admitted that the situation could have been better handled.  Both sides made mistakes.  The big thing to me is that they said out loud and to each other what they did to hurt the other and admitted they were wrong.  Both prayed for forgiveness and wisdom in the future.  That takes major courage and grace.  And healing follows.
At SBV the teachers at the Children's Residence had a chance to air some frustrations with the way some things work there and not knowing fully about procedures and how some things are done.  They also had a chance to tell some successes they have had so far this year.  Although they all admitted to being so frustrated early on that they considered resigning, they all kept going and are now seeing how the children are warming up to the routines and learning processes of the school day, and to each other-teachers to students, and students to teachers.  Some children have some learning issues and emotional or behavioral issues that make for challenging days.  Others need extra doses of TLC to get through the day.  The head of the Residence and the counselor, both steeped in psychology and Christian love admitted that the school year had had a hurried start and they had made some mistakes in not preparing some children for the transition back to school, or, in the case of the youngest students, into school from a very limited living space.  It was just too much change too quickly for a smooth transition.  So all parties were able to agree to drop back a bit and start over anew this week.
Sometimes when we get off on the wrong track, how freeing to step back, examine what we have done, admit to not being on top of things and try again.  How much more freeing when people are able to face each other and say some hard things and still have a chance to begin again.
Isn't God very much like that?  Over and over we come up short.  When we are willing to examine our hearts and ask forgiveness, we receive it bountifully.  I think this is my Lenten discipline this year.  To examine my own heart and attitudes and be willing to say aloud I am sorry and to try again to start over.  Repent-change my way of thinking: stop, pause, rethink, and return to a right pathway.