Forgiveness

Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?"
“ No, not seven times," answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven."
Matthew 18:21-22

Dear Father in heaven

let us be peacemakers:

more ready to call pople friends than enemies

more ready to trust than mistrust

more ready to love than hate

more ready to respect than despise

more ready to serve than be served

more ready to absorb evil than to pass it on.

Dear father in heaven,

let us be more like Christ.

(© The Mothers' Union Anthology of Public Prayer)

Lord Jesus, help us as parents to build homes of love, welcome and peace,
where children and teenagers can feel safe and loved and free to be themselves.
A place to return to when the world seems cruel,
a haven when hurt and fear overcome.
A place of refuge when mistakes are made and forgiveness is lovingly given, so together we can all grow,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Joan Blake

God, you are the source of love and you join us together
in the miracle of friendship, marriage and family life.
Let faithfulness, freshness and unselfishness fill the deep relationships we cherish and be a sign to the nations that this is the way you love the world in Jesus Christ our Lord.