Bob, the Unmerciful

in high school now!Bob: Time flies, right?Fred: Look, I really need this money back, or I'm going to have to do something about it.Bob: Like what?Fred: I'll have to sell your video games that you left at my house to get my money back.Bob: You wouldn't dare!Fred: Try me! (picks up phone) Hi, could I get the number for GameStop?Bob: No, Fred, please! (dramatically falls to his knees) You can't take my games! Those are my most prized possessions!Fred: Okay, okay! Bob, you're being way too dramatic. Listen, I can't stand seeing you this upset. I'll tell you what—I'm going to forgive this entire debt. All fifty dollars. Just forget it ever happened.Bob: Really? You'd do that for me?Fred: Yeah, but only on one condition—clean up after yourself next time you come over!Bob: Deal! Thank you so much, Fred. You're the best friend ever! (walks away happily)(Bob walks down the street and sees Taquito)Bob: Hey Taquito!Taquito: Hi Bob! How's it going?Bob: Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something. Remember that quarter you borrowed from me last month? I really need it back today. I want to buy a candy bar from the vending machine.Taquito: Oh man, Bob, I'm really sorry. I know I owe you that quarter, but could I possibly pay you back next week? My little sister has been really sick, and I used all my allowance money to help buy her medicine. I won't have any money until I get my allowance next Friday.Bob: Next Friday?! That's a whole week away! Don't you understand how badly I want that candy bar? It's not fair that you spent MY money on medicine!Taquito: I'm really sorry, Bob. I know it's frustrating. Please be patient with me—I promise I'll pay you back as soon as I can. Can you forgive me?Bob: Absolutely not! If you can't pay me back right now, then I'm going to your house to take that medicine away from your sister until you give me my quarter!(Bob marches to Taquito's house and takes the medicine)Bob: (to audience) Now we'll see how quickly he finds my money!Fred: Bob! I just heard what you did to Taquito's family. Is it true that you took medicine from a sick little girl over twenty-five cents?Bob: Well, yeah. He owes me money, and I want it back now.Fred: Bob, think about what just happened between us. I forgave you a debt of fifty dollars—that's 200 times more than what Taquito owes you! I showed you mercy when you asked for it. Shouldn't you show that same mercy to Taquito?Bob: But that's different—Fred: No, it's not different at all. Since you refuse to forgive Taquito the way I forgave you, I'm changing my mind. I want my fifty dollars back right now, or I'm taking your video games to sell them.Taquito: (to audience) Jesus told a story just like this to teach us an important lesson. He said that God forgives us for all the wrong things we do—and that's a huge debt we could never repay on our own. But when God forgives us so much, He expects us to forgive others too, even when it's hard.Think about these questions:• How do you think Bob felt when Fred forgave his fifty-dollar debt?• Why was it wrong for Bob to refuse to forgive Taquito's much smaller debt?• Can you think of a time when someone forgave you for something big? How did that make you feel?• Is there someone in your life you need to forgive right now?Jesus taught us: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). This means that because God forgives us for all our mistakes, we should forgive others when they hurt or disappoint us. It's not always easy, but it's what God calls us to do.Remember: When we hold grudges or refuse to forgive, we're like Bob—forgetting how much we've been forgiven. But when we choose to forgive others, we're showing the same love and mercy that God shows us every day.The End