Innocent as charged!!!

Guilt and guilt feelings are funny things.  Differentiating between the two can be tough, yet knowing the difference is essential to living in peace.  Recently I've had to address this topic in some depth with some patients dealing with anxiety.  Guilt and guilt feelings can be over specific issues or over life in general.  Furthermore, guilt and guilt feelings can be rightly placed or misplaced... one can be guilty of some wrong and feel guilty about it, one can be guilty of something but not feel guilty about it at all, one can actually not be guilty of something yet feel terribly guilty over it, and one can be innocent of some wrong and have the freedom of not feeling guilty over it.

There's been relative strife in the home for the past week over some misunderstandings and differing goals/perspectives between JJ and me, yet a few days ago while Evangelina and I were alone, she took the time to approach me to apologize for the recent family difficulties as she perceived that they came out of her disobedience that put JJ and me off on each other.  I found it remarkable that our little one had for some reason been carrying this around in her little heart.  I tried to reassure her that our family's entire problems in no way fell upon her shoulders, but rather mostly upon us adults.  I wanted her to know that I was grateful that although her sin cannot cause others to sin, she recognized that her sin can and does affect others deeply.

Peace my child, the peace of the Lord, the peace He bought for you at the cross by taking on all of your guilt... God's peace be upon you forever.   Mommy and Daddy love you so much.