Holy Cross Catholic School guides each student in developing academic, emotional and physical excellence while spreading the Gospel message as Jesus did, since 1868.

“Mom,” my daughter said in her most mature voice as she walked up to my office chair, with her notebook in hand.

“What do you want to talk to me about?” I asked, already knowing the answer was either a ploy to get something she didn’t already have or a surefire way to get her sister in trouble.

“I just think you need to be aware of what she has done at school today.”

Though no alerts had pinged my "mom radar", my daughter proceeded to rattle off a very nit-picky list of things that annoyed her about her sister.

As Jesus instructs us, we are not to keep a running list of wrongs in our heads, but to forgive and release who and what has hurt us. (Of course, boundaries are important… very, very important… but they do not negate forgiveness.)

We are not to withhold forgiveness. We are to forgive and leave the one who hurt us in God’s hands, who is the only one capable of judging a heart accurately and allowing just consequences for sinful actions.

The sisterly school spat was easy for me to defuse because I’m their mediator (and I do a lot of that). However, I admittedly find it hard to extend an unlimited amount of forgiveness to those who repeatedly and unapologetically cause hurt and pain in my own life. Injustice continues to run rampant in our world, yet we are to maintain a forgiving status. Why? Because God is our Defender.

God is never asking us to be a doormat. But to forgive authentically from the seat of our hearts? That’s a no-brainer for Christ-followers. Why? Because He did.

“What would happen if your sister kept a list like this of all the things you’ve done to her?” I asked my daughter. “Be quick to forgive, give the grace you want to receive, and remember Jesus did not … and will not ever … present you with a list of what you’ve done wrong in your life. He went to the cross and died for you …because He loves you.”

She camouflaged her eye roll, but I relate to how hard it is to apply this note of wisdom to our lives when we don’t feel like it. Prayer and time will give us the strength to stop jotting down wrongs and instead lend forgiveness more authentically and automatically.

Father,

Judgment for others is not in our hands, and shouldn’t be on our resumes. As we seek You more each day in prayer and in Your Word, show us how to be forgiving, in Christ. Cleanse us of our tendency to keep records of wrongs and reasons for blame. Let us not become people who shame others, but show them how to be free through Christ.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Our calendar raffle fundraiser for this year has begun! This is a great fundraiser for Holy Cross and an opportunity for us to participate with other GRACE schools. There are 200 drawings divided over 71 days for 2022 with each winning ticket worth $50. Plus if you win your ticket is placed back in the raffle for the next drawing days!

Calendar raffle tickets were sent home in the parent folder. Each family is responsible to buy or sell 10 tickets (unless exemption was noted) by December 23rd. When sending the bottom portion back to school please be sure to fully complete the ticket information. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to the Site Advisory Council at SACHolyCross@gmail.com