Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Windows and Mirrors: A Program about Diversity for Grades 4-5

Introduction

The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world. — Marianne Williamson

Ideally, a faith community is the place to practice repentance and forgiveness, the better to use them in the world outside. This session explores pathways to forgiveness.

When a child feels wronged, the impulse toward revenge and retaliation may invite more creative possibility than forgiveness. Many children, too, have experienced (or offered) insincere apologies, perhaps when an adult mediator's goal was to achieve a temporary peace. This session teaches that as liberating as an apology can be for both the aggrieved and errant parties, true forgiveness is only sustainable in the context of justice. Repairing a broken covenant takes sincere intent and deliberate practice. Children in this session begin to learn the appropriate skills.

Goals

This session will:

  • Develop participants' understanding of the individual's role in a covenanted community
  • Help participants understand the necessity for both peace and justice in a covenanted community
  • Create understanding of forgiveness and its benefits to both the person receiving and the person giving.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Practice the skills of offering forgiveness to those who have broken a covenant
  • Connect their own thoughts and experiences with a story about a group of Buddhist students' experience of covenant and forgiveness
  • Articulate ways they express and consider ways to enforce the group covenant
  • Understand how practicing forgiveness helps heal hurt feelings
  • Commit to practicing at home forgiveness skills learned during the session.