What is Forgiveness? {lessons from those so young}

"light, love, and soup."

This is my second year reading The Tale of Despereaux with my sixth graders.

The theme of this book is forgiveness.
{Kate DiCamillo is brilliant.}

I asked them to write a few words on what they learned about forgiveness.

They always seem to teach me a few lessons too.

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"Forgiveness helps get the hurt out.  If you forgive your heart will be pure."

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"Forgiveness is a strong word that some people say with no meaning.  

When Despereaux’s father said, “Will you forgive me?” he said it with meaning.  

I think that is half the reason why Despereaux forgave his father."

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"Forgiveness can be the only way to save your heart from breaking. 
Despereaux had to forgive his father to keep his own heart from breaking."

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"If you did something bad to someone and you forgive them,
it’s like taking medicine for a cold; you feel a whole lot better.
Forgiveness can relieve stress."

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"Forgiveness is a magical word, a word that can lift spirits.
Forgiveness can be little, however, it can also be big. 
It can change a life.  Even a little forgiveness can make a big difference."

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"Forgiveness is power.
Forgiveness is being able to let go of what someone said or did to you;
being able to forgive is being able to move on.

Forgiveness is leaving the past, and moving on to the future...the next present."


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"Forgiveness.
It’s like a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day.
Forgiveness.
It’s like a light in the darkness of hate.
Forgiveness.
It’s a kindness that can change the soul, mind, and heart of a mean person {or thing}...
Who can forgive?
Anyone."

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"Forgiveness is a light which lies within all of our hearts no matter how evil or how bad they may seem, forgiveness can cleanse their heart and fill it with a bright shining light."

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"Forgiveness is like having a weight lifted off of your shoulders.
When you are forgiven, everything goes good again.
When you forgive someone, you feel better, there’s no more heavy weight on you.
That is what I think forgiveness is, having a weight lift off your shoulders."

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If my students hadn't written these in front of me,
I would have hardly believed that they were written by those so young.
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Light, Love and Soup
f o r g i v e n e s s

needed by all

understood

by every

soul

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