Never-Ending Forgiveness

(Showing only the pencil with the eraser) You all recognize this, don't you? It's a pencil. What can you do with a pencil? (wait for answers) When you're writing or drawing and you make a mistake, what do you do then? That's right, you use the eraser on the other end of the pencil. God's forgiveness is a lot like this eraser. We all make mistakes, and God is always ready to forgive us, if we ask. And just like this eraser removes the mistakes we make with a pencil, God's forgiveness can remove the guilt for our mistakes. But you know, I make a lot of mistakes. So look at this pencil (showing them the eraserless pencil). What do I do if this is the only pencil I have? I can't erase my mistakes any more. I'm going to have to live with them. God's not like that at all. God's forgiveness is not like that at all. The 23rd Psalm says that God prepares a table for us, and he goes so far that our cup overflows. That means God gives us all the love and forgiveness we need and He keeps on giving, Dear Lord, thank you for forgiving us . . . and forgiving us . . . and forgiving us . . .and forgivng us again. Amen.