Lesson Presentation Idea

Catechism 3.5 or 4.6

Forgive & Forget--A Skit in Three Acts

Cast: Mother, Father, Brother, Sister

Props: A chalkboard, chalk, a chalk eraser, an article of clothing, a checkbook, fake dog poop (optional).

Act One: A Family Meeting

Bro: (whispering to his sister) I hate these family meetings. Mom and Dad are always so serious.

Sis: (whispering back) Well, if we don't say anything and just nod our heads, we might be able to keep it short.

Mom: What are you two whispering about? You know that there are no secrets in our family meetings.

Sis & Bro: (together) Sorry, Mom.

Dad: Well, you're probably wondering why I've called you all together today. (Sis and Bro shake their heads.) Well, I would like to see a little bit more forgiveness happening in our family. The Bible tells us we ought to forgive each other. In fact, each time we pray the Lord's Prayer we say: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." So, to help learn more about forgiveness, and to help us learn how to be better forgivers, I want to introduce to you ... the "Clean Slate."

Bro: Dad, it's a chalkboard. What's a chalkboard got ...

Mom: (interrupting) Don't interrupt your Father, dear.

Bro: Oops. Sorry, Mom. Sorry Dad.

Dad: No that's fine. In fact, you've given me a reason to show you how this works. Every time someone commits a sin, the one who is sinned against will put a big "X" on the chalkboard. The "X" will represent the sin. Let's say, son, that you interrupt me again. When you do, I'll mark an "X" ... like so (marks chalkboard). But then, I'll take my eraser, and erase the "X" ... like so (erases chalkboard). This will symbolize what has actually taken place; namely, that you committed a sin, and that your sin has been forgiven. The idea will be that we can always start with a clean slate.

Mom: But dear, who is to say what will be sin and what won't be a s--

Dad: (Interrupting) I don't want any questions. Let's just give this a try, okay? (Bro and Sis roll their eyes and nod; Mom looks concerned). Okay!

Act Two: The Clean Slate

Sis: So what do you think about this chalkboard deal?

Bro: Well, I'm not sure. With Dad, things usually get a little wacky.

Mom: Your father will be home any minute, kids. Will you set the table?

Dad: Hello! I'm home!

Mom: Hello, dear.

Sis & Bro: (together) Oh, Hi Dad.

Dad: My favorite part about work is that I get to come home to the people I love most (bro and sis roll their eyes).

Mom: Well, were glad to have you home dear. Will you help me get dinner on the table?

Dad: Why of course. But first ... what's this I see? (goes over and picks up an article of clothing just laying there)

Sis: Oh, that would be mine.

Dad: You know what we've said about picking up after yourself? Honey, I'm afraid you've committed a sin. And you know what we do with sins, don't you?

Sis: Ummmmm....

Dad: We mark them on the chalkboard! (makes an "X" on the board)

Sis: Gee, Dad, I'm sorry. I'll try to ...

Dad: (Interrupting) And you know what we do with an "X" mark on the chalkboard?

Sis: Errrr, I have a feeling you're going to tell me.

Dad: We ERASE it! (erases the "X" with a flourish) Viola! Your sin is forgiven! Go and sin no more!

Sis (ironically): Gee, Dad ... I don't know what to say.

Dad: Don't mention it.

Bro: Hey, Dad? After dinner, do you think that you could...

Dad: (not hearing a word his son has said, sees poop on floor) What's this?! Who's job is it to clean up after the dog?

Bro: Uh, gee Dad ... that would be my job.

Dad: Well, look at this mess on the floor! (Dad does as if there's dog poo on the floor OR a piece of fake dog doo would lend the appropriate dramatic effect here). Yeeech!

Bro: I must not have seen it, Dad. I'll go get something to...

Dad: (Interrupting again) Not another word! Your Sin has already been counted! Again, let me demonstrate (goes and marks an "X" on the chalkboard). Now, I will forgive your sin (erases "X"). There, a clean slate! (The brother rolls his eyes, bends over to clean up whatever mess is left).

Mom (speaking to Dad): Honey, I thought I asked you to help with dinner. Oh well, never mind ... dinner's ready.

Dad: (who has been looking through his wife's checkbook) Hold it. Hold everything! What's this in your checkbook, dear? A purchase at for 170 dollars? I thought we said no more big purchases this month!

Mom: Yes, I know dear. But the kids needed new jeans, and I needed to get...

Dad: (Interrupting yet again) Quiet! (with much drama and flair, goes over and marks an "X" on the board, gestures toward it, then with an equally amount of pomp and circumstance, erases it, folds his arms, and smiles smugly).

Bro & Sis & Mom (together): That does it! Here's what we think of your "clean slate"! (With that, Sis and Mom look over at Bro and give him a nod; at the nod, bro goes over to the chalkboard, takes his fingernails and slowly, painfully drags them over the board from top to bottom.)

Act Three: True Forgiveness

Mom: Kids, I have to tell you that I feel a little guilty about how we ruined your father's "forgiveness" experiment.

Sis: Mom, don't be. It was ridiculous. Instead of making me feel better, he made me feel worse.

Bro: Yeah, forgiveness is supposed to make you feel more secure, more free. Instead, I was starting to get nervous about doing anything wrong and getting one of those nasty little X's.

Mom: Shhhh, here he comes.

Dad (entering): Oh, no need to stop talking. I know what you're talking about anyway.

Mom: You do?

Dad: Yes. I suppose my chalkboard idea wasn't such a great idea after all. I was trying to help us learn how to forgive. I guess the only thing you learned was how not to forgive.

Mom: Dear, forgiveness is something that's given and received freely and humbly. What you did was make it a requirement, and make a big show out of it.

Sis: Dad, forgiveness isn't something you use as a weapon. You can't manipulate or control people with it.

Bro: Sis is right Dad. You can only speak the word of forgiveness to those who know they've done something wrong, and ask you to forgive them. Otherwise, you have to keep quiet about it.

Dad: Well, for a bunch of people I thought didn't know much about forgiveness, you guys sure know a lot about forgiveness. I guess what I want to say is, I feel real bad about what I did, I'm sorry, and I hope you'll accept my humble apologies.

Mom & Bro & Sis (together): We Forgive You!