Forgiveness

I didn't think that I had unspoken apologies or deeds I had yet to forgive, but when I read library books to the kids tonight, I wondered if the universe was telling me something.  I chose one book specifically.  I was sitting on the floor in the library, just pulling books from one particular shelf. I would glance them over then put them back.  The book, Sorry, by Jean Van Leeuwen didn't get placed back on the shelf. The cover picture, by Brad Sneed, was engaging enough and definitely told a story; yes, I judged the book by its cover. I often do. But just books. I hope.
Aidan looked through the Batman books while I sat on the small reading steps, taking in Sorry. If you haven't read it, you should. Except I'm a big baby and cry all the time over simple heart-touching stories, so if you have that problem too, you might need a standby reader. Otherwise your kids might think you're crazy. And they'll laugh at you. Especially if you make your teens listen.
The story is about two brother who are close, but they gradually drift apart further and further because they didn't mend the one little instance with a "sorry."  As the book goes on, I wondered when they were finally going to apologize to each other. If there can be a suspense build up in a children's picture book, it's here. Every page I kept thinking, "okay, now apologize."  Poor Ebenezer and Obadiah.  They could have saved themselves so much pain if they had just apologized.
The second book, I believe Allie chose. She was in the Dr Seuss section and wanted Aidan to hear this gooey story, Bartholomew and the Oobleck. I have never even read this one. The spoiler here, is that in the end, the magic words that make all the sticky, gluey, gooey muck go away are, "I'm sorry. It was my fault."
In today's world, I really have a problem with everyone trying to blame someone else and never taking responsibility for their own choices. I loved that this book made him just say that he asked for it. He requested it. He apologized and set it all straight and moved on.
Sorry brought to mind two things. First, a General Conference address by Thomas S Monson when he was First Counselor in the First Presidency. I think I may have posted about it before, in relation to a certain day at church. Maybe not. I've always remembered this particular message. Hidden Wedges retells the story written by Samuel T Whitman, about an ice storm and a metal wedge in the center of a tree. The tree survived for years with the metal wedged into its 'heart', but when the ice storm came, it was not as strong as it appeared.
The second thing that was brought to mind was the children's book we used to listen to and read. Forgiveness is one of the Standin' Tall books and it too relates a story about a small sliver that was left unattended. As time went by, the wound festered and became infected. When the young girl treated her small splinter, she was able to heal. Just as that small wound, the book helps kids realize that they need to forgive one another.
Hopefully my children are learning through word and example that they can apologize and forgive easily. Holding onto offense and anger is so easy to do in our earthly state. If we can overcome the "natural man" and become humble, we will be able to experience lighter hearts and happier days.  We don't need **spoiler alert: generations to by** as Ebenezer and Obadiah did to mend our relationships with our family, friends and neighbors.
Hopefully, the universe isn't telling me that we got, not just one book about saying sorry, but two, because that's what I need to see and address. I would like to think it was coincidence.