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Finding Our Way Back: The Journey of Forgiveness

Possible Viewpont: Catholic

Title: Finding Our Way Back: The Journey of Forgiveness

Objective: To help young children understand the concept of reconciliation and forgiveness through stories, discussions, and activities.

Introduction:

  • Gather the children in a circle and start with a simple question: "Have you ever made a mistake? How did it feel?" Allow them to share their thoughts.
  • Explain that everyone makes mistakes, and that’s part of being human. Today, we’ll learn about how we can find our way back to God and to each other when we make those mistakes.

Story Time:

  • Tell the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Use simple language to describe how a young man took his father’s money, went far away, and wasted it all.
  • Explain how the son realized he had made wrong choices and decided to return home, feeling scared but hoping for forgiveness.
  • Emphasize how the father welcomed him back with open arms, celebrating his return.
  • Ask the children how they think the son felt when he came back home and what it means to forgive someone who has made a mistake.

Discussion:

  • Talk about the importance of saying “I’m sorry” when we hurt someone.
  • Discuss how it feels to be forgiven and how we should also try to forgive others.
  • Share that Jesus taught us to forgive not just once but many times, because He loves us and wants us to love each other too.

Activity:

  • Crafting a "Forgiveness Heart": Provide each child with paper hearts and art supplies. Ask them to decorate their hearts with things they can do to help make things right when they’ve hurt someone.
  • Suggest ideas like saying “sorry,” sharing, helping others, or being kind.
  • Once they finish, have them share their hearts with the group.

Prayer:

  • Lead the children in a simple prayer asking God to help them understand forgiveness in their hearts and to help them forgive others.
  • Example prayer: “Dear God, thank you for always loving us, even when we make mistakes. Help us to forgive those who hurt us and to say we’re sorry when we have done wrong. Amen.”

Conclusion:

  • Remind the children that we all can find our way back to God and to each other through forgiveness.
  • Encourage them to think of one person they can practice forgiveness with this week, whether it’s a friend, sibling, or family member.
  • Close with a friendly smile and a reminder that God is always ready to forgive us, and so should we be toward each other.

You Might Enjoy: Letting Go of Grudges: Forgiveness as a Key to Finishing Well | Forgiveness and reconciliation in marriage |

Worship Music for Lesson

1. “This Little Light of Mine” – This uplifting song encourages young children to shine their light and share love and forgiveness with others.

2. “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” – A reassuring song that teaches children about God’s love and care for everyone, promoting the idea of forgiveness and acceptance.

3. “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” – This simple song instills the importance of inner peace that comes from forgiving others and seeking forgiveness.

4. “Jesus Loves Me” – A classic children’s hymn that emphasizes God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, making it relatable for young children.

Questions for Lesson

1. How does God want us to feel when we forgive someone who has hurt us?
2. What does the Bible teach us about being kind and forgiving to one another?
3. Can you share a time when you forgave someone or someone forgave you? How did that make you feel?
4. What are some ways we can show others that we are ready to make up after an argument?
5. In the story of the Prodigal Son, how did the father show forgiveness and reconciliation?
6. What does Matthew 6:14 say about forgiveness and how should it help us in our relationships?

Scriptures

Matthew 6:14-15
Luke 15:11-32
Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 3:13
Matthew 18:21-22
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Psalm 103:12
Isaiah 1:18
James 5:16
Romans 5:8

Object Lesson

Title: Finding Our Way Back: The Journey of Forgiveness

### Props Needed:
1. Two toy figures (representing two friends)
2. A small cardboard bridge (to symbolize reconciliation)
3. A fluffy heart-shaped pillow (to represent love)
4. A small box or bag filled with little stones (to symbolize hurtful words or actions)
5. A large colorful cloth (to act as the “river” separating the two friends)
6. A small banner that says “Sorry” (for when forgiveness is offered)
7. A large colorful sign that says “Friendship” (to symbolize the end goal)

### Presentation Steps:

1. **Setting Up the Scene:**
– Begin by laying out the colorful cloth on the ground to create a “river” that separates the two toy figures. Place the figures on opposite sides of the cloth, signifying that they are not talking to each other because of a disagreement.

2. **Introducing Conflict:**
– Explain that the two friends used to play together happily. But one day, one friend said something hurtful to the other.
– Take out the box of stones and share that each stone represents a hurtful word or action. As you talk, place a few stones on the ground near each toy figure to symbolize the words that created distance between them.

3. **Feeling of Isolation:**
– Talk about how the friends felt sad and lonely being separated by the river—how they miss each other but don’t know how to talk again. You can act out the feelings by making the figures look sad or droopy.

4. **The Journey Begins:**
– Introduce the idea that in order to mend their friendship, they first need to forgive each other.
– Show the fluffy heart-shaped pillow and explain that love is what brings friends back together. You can say, “This pillow represents our love for each other, even when we are upset.”

5. **Taking a Step Toward Forgiveness:**
– Bring one of the toy figures close to the river and say, “I want to say I’m sorry.” Hold up the “Sorry” banner and explain that saying sorry is an important step in the journey of forgiveness.
– Depending on the age of the children, you could have a discussion about what it means to say “I’m sorry” and how it can help heal hurt feelings.

6. **Building the Bridge:**
– Next, take the cardboard bridge and place it over the “river.” Explain that this bridge represents the effort and choice to forgive and move on from the disagreement.
– Invite both figures to walk across the bridge together. As they do, you can describe how they start to feel better, share smiles, and remember their friendship.

7. **Celebrating Friendship:**
– Once both toy figures are on the same side of the river, pull out the large colorful sign that says “Friendship.”
– Explain that they are now back together and that by forgiving each other, they have shown that friendship is worth the effort it takes to mend things.
– You can conclude with a reminder that while disagreements might happen, friendship and forgiveness can always bring us back together.

8. **Closing Discussion:**
– Gather the children and ask them to share their own experiences or feelings about forgiveness. Encourage them to think about times they had to say sorry or forgive someone, reinforcing the message that it’s completely okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them and try to make amends.

### Conclusion:
This illustration not only teaches young children about the importance of forgiveness in friendships, but it does so using interactive props and storytelling that make the concept relatable and engaging.

Craft Idea

Craft Idea: “Path to Forgiveness Prayer Path”

Time Required: 5-10 minutes

Objective: To help children understand the journey of forgiveness and the importance of reconciliation through a hands-on activity.

Supplies Needed:
– Colorful construction paper or cardstock (various colors)
– Scissors
– Markers or crayons
– Glue or tape
– A printed or drawn image of a cross or a heart (optional)
– Stickers (optional, for decoration)
– A small basket or box (for storing finished crafts)

Instructions:

1. **Preparation of the Path:**
– Begin by cutting several strips of construction paper (2 inches wide and 6-8 inches long) for each child. These strips will represent the “steps” on their path to forgiveness.
– Each child will need 4-6 strips of paper in different colors.

2. **Decorating the Path:**
– Give each child their strips of paper. Instruct them to use markers or crayons to write one word or short phrase on each strip that represents something related to forgiveness, such as: “Sorry,” “Love,” “Gratitude,” “Understanding,” or “New Beginnings.”
– Encourage them to decorate the strips with drawings or stickers, making each step colorful and personal.

3. **Creating the Path:**
– Once the strips are decorated, help the children arrange them in a pathway on a larger piece of construction paper or directly on a table.
– They can glue or tape the strips down to form a winding path, symbolizing their journey toward forgiveness.

4. **Adding a Symbol:**
– Provide an optional printed or drawn image of a cross or a heart. They can glue this at one end of their path to represent God’s love and forgiveness.

5. **Discussion:**
– While they work, engage the children in a discussion about what forgiveness means and how they can seek forgiveness from others and offer it themselves.
– Encourage them to think about how they feel when they forgive someone and how it brings them closer to others and to God.

6. **Reflection and Prayer:**
– After completing the craft, gather the children in a circle and take a moment for reflection. Ask them to share what they wrote on their path and why.
– Conclude with a simple prayer asking for God’s help in forgiving others and seeking forgiveness in their own lives.

7. **Display:**
– Collect the crafts and place them in the small basket or box for display during class or as a reminder of the lesson about reconciliation.

Through this craft, children will visually and physically engage with the concept of forgiveness and have a tangible reminder of their journey back to reconciliation with God and others.

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