25 WHEN WRONG, GO TO YOUR CHILD: ADMIT IT,
QUIT IT, FORGET IT.

The hardest three words a parent may ever have to say to a child are, “I was wrong.”

However, such confessions can build trust and intimacy between parents and children. We train our children to confess their wrongs by modeling such confession ourselves.

At times, we will react emotionally and rashly to our children’s behaviors and attitudes. In the stress of the moment, we may do or say things that we know are wrong. Such situations call for quick and immediate repentance. Children learn how to repent by imitating our repentance.

Admit it. When wrong, say, “I was wrong when ____________. Will you forgive me?” Teach your child to say the same thing.

Quit it. Stop doing what’s wrong. Change your wrong behavior and attitude. The fruit of sincere repentance is a change in direction. We stop doing what’s wrong and begin doing what’s right. Teach your child that true repentance means that he stops doing what’s wrong.

Forget it. Neither you nor your child has permission to bring up past sin that have been confessed and forgiven. A past failure doesn’t make a person a failure. Let go of the past. Don’t bring it up to accuse or condemn yourself or your child. Teach your child to forget and let go of their past failures and mistakes, as well as yours.

Remember that forgiveness is not an option. Jesus commands us to forgive (Matthew 6). Asking for a child’s forgiveness helps them to keep unforgiveness out of their lives.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16).