Not Forgive Exactly

Even though forgiveness is a central theme of the Easter celebration, it is perhaps still too much to ask that all father's be forgiven all their missteps. But it shouldn't be too much to ask that at least some be cut some slack ... at least for their childrens' sake.

So, maybe, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could Jason Yaeger be carefully escorted out of minimum security federal prison for a few days — he is willing to double his sentence — so he can see his cancer-suffering daughter as is her dying wish?

And now that polygamist John Darger is being nationally outed by the success of his son, UNLV forward Joe, in the annual college basketball bacchanalia, lets consider that the crime he will be accused of is marrying without divorcing. By all accounts he is a good father to his brood of 17. And he appears to be a reasonable husband — if somewhat faithless by non-Mormon, traditional standards.

** And probably you know some as well ... feel free to spread the slack. **

Forgive and Hope

One of my most important lessons in parenting was in the explanation from a wise person that a young child wakes up every day forgetting what s/he did the day before to tick you off and forgiving you for your wrongs. And the better, probably happier, parent won't punish today the bad of yesterday, but will let it go as well (although celebrating/reminding children of the good they do is always a good idea).

Which leads to hope, the sum of an equation where a dad can't forget how his children erred, but loves them so much that he forgives.

And forgiveness is in the air — a child sits by his father's grave to ask forgiveness; an elderly and retired rabbi has taught his children forgiveness as a response to the holocaust — as Jews and Moslems celebrate the Days of Awe and Ramadan.

** Thing 1, Thing 2, forgive me. **