FAITH NEWS SERVICE – No matter your age, forgiving someone can be difficult. Even when we know it is the right thing to do and that God has instructed us to forgive, many still struggle with it. But studies show forgiveness isn’t done only for the benefit of the one who is being forgiven but that forgiving others can improve health.

In fact, harboring anger toward someone else is linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety.

As explaining forgiveness relies on an abstract concept, it can be a difficult topic to discuss with children. A new picture book, The Weed of Unforgiveness by Vicky J. Wedel (Redemption Press), explains what forgiveness is and shows children what can happen when we refuse to forgive someone.

Told in rhyme, the story follows a little boy named Ben who has an encounter with a neighborhood bully. Hurt, Ben runs to his grandma, Mimi, for comfort and advice. Mimi tells him he should forgive and pray for the other boy. When Ben admits he doesn’t feel ready to forgive him, Mimi warns Ben that unforgiveness is like a weed, and if he isn’t careful, that weed could continue to grow and grow.

When Ben looks at his own actions and sees he has also hurt others, he is able to forgive, and as a result, he feels happier and grows closer to God.      

A letter to adult readers is included in the beginning of the book. Vicky Wedel honestly and openly describes some of her own experiences with forgiveness and how her understanding of it has grown over time.

The author says, “I’ve experienced the negative results of holding resentment fed by having an inaccurate view of forgiveness … I want to teach others what God has taught me in hopes they too find the freedom that comes from forgiving freely.”

Unlike many other books that cover this subject, this story also explains what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. Grandma Mimi’s compassion and gently worded wisdom help share this important message with readers of all ages. This relatable message encourages others to soften their hearts and to forgive others as God has forgiven them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vicky is a follower of Christ, a wife, a mother, and a friend. She loves children and taught kindergarteners at church for twenty-three years. She also loves writing devotions, poems, and children’s books to share what God has taught her. Her hope is to share His message of love, grace, mercy, and relentlessness so they can work all together, even in the messiness of our lives, for the ultimate good of those who embrace Jesus as our Creator, Sustainer, sovereign Savior, and Lord. She wants readers to know that the Lord alone has the power to change hearts and lives, growing in them a desperate dependence and devotion.

For interviews, contact vicky@findingrestinthemess.com

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