Blowing it as a mom and the forgiveness of children

For three days this week, we had typical Arkansas November weather.  Chilly, overcast, drizzly days that seem colder than they really are because they're so damp. 

So, yesterday morning we're in the van and about to pull out of the neighborhood - taking Annie to preschool.  I flip on my wipers and one of them goes flying across the street.  Huh?! Why did that happen? Has someone been climbing on my van? (because they have a tendency to do just that)  Thankfully the wiper snaps back on and it's a very easy fix.  But, I'm fuming silently.

Then one of my children says, "Mommy, I climbed on your van. I know I was wrong to do that." 
"You did? Why? You know you're not supposed to do that. You're old enough to know better. You know Harrison gets in trouble for that.  You snapped off one wiper and bent the other one! Why did you climb on my van?"  I would not shut up. And my tone of voice was not kind.  Yes, it was an issue that needed to be addressed, but I did not handle it the right way at all.

Thankfully, when we hit the four-way stop about a half mile down the road, the Lord convicted me of how harsh and unkind I was.  She had admitted she knew it was wrong.  Yet, I chewed her up over it.  I wasn't abusive, but I was harsh in my tone of voice and rather than address it in private, I was unkind in front of her siblings.

The look on her face said plenty. I had hurt her.  I pulled into a parking lot, parked the van and turned to face her.  To her I said, "{child}, I was horribly unkind to you.  I was harsh in my speech. I spoke that way to you in front of your siblings, too.  Will you forgive me for being unkind?"  She nodded. Then to each of my other children, I spoke one by one, "{Child's name} will you forgive me for being harsh and unkind to {sister that I was unkind to}."  Each child said, "Yes, Mommy, I forgive you."  And then, the child I was unkind to said again, in the sweetest voice, "I forgive you, Mommy. I love you!!"  I burst into tears. I am so thankful that the Lord was kind to prompt me when I was way out of line.  I'm thankful that my sweet girl was quick to forgive (oh, may I always be that quick to forgive). And may I always remember when I am asked to forgive someone that I should remind them that I love them, too.