But as I think about my friends’ families, one word separates my family from many of theirs… forgiveness.  Forgiveness permeated our family.  We all made plenty of mistakes – at times we were rude and mean – but we knew how to forgive.  And once we forgave, the topic never came up again.  It was an unspoken family rule.

Forgiveness is what I cherish about the cross, too.  Except that forgiveness from Jesus is different than forgiveness from my brother.  It’s because of the Jesus’ death on the cross that God receives me just like I am.  But because I grew up in a home that oozed forgiveness, I didn’t always appreciate God’s mercy like I should.  As I age though, that’s changing.  The older I get, the more aware I become of my sin.  It’s like peeling back an onion.  As a young adult, I thought that I’d find near-perfection in the middle of the onion.  What I’m realizing is that the middle of the onion contains rot – issues that self-discipline alone just can’t wipe away.  Issues like pride, self-sufficiency, fear, impatience, etc… And yet God receives me just like I am because of Jesus’ death on the cross.

Yes, forgiveness made our family unique.  It gave my life so much joy as a child.  But God’s forgiveness offers me so much more.  It gives my life meaning, love, and peace forever.  What more can a man ask for?