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Forgive us our Trash-Baskets!

By Helen Jesze, 14^th July 2023

“… and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…”

Matthew 6:12 KJV

Little eight-year old Johnny had been learning The Lord’s Prayer, in Sunday School. The following week, his teacher looked around at her little class and asked, “Who would like to recite The Lord’s Prayer for us?” Johnny’s hand shot up, “Me, Miss!” “Right – off you go then, Johnny!” All went well… “Our Father who art in Heaven…” until Johnny got to “and forgive us…” for here, Johnny said with emphasis: “and forgive us our trash-baskets, as we forgive those who trash- basket against us!”

Teacher tried to explain it was ‘trespasses’ which means ‘sins’, but Johnny was sure his version was the correct one, and wouldn’t be convinced! I had a good laugh when I heard this, yet in one way, Johnny had hit the nail on the head! We have a good many ‘trash-baskets’ in our lives for which we need to ask the Lord’s forgiveness, stuff which needs to be got rid of, rotten and nasty. And we also need to forgive the rubbish and hurts which people do against us.

I was thinking of this a few days ago as I watched a neighbour taking apart the wooden decking in his garden. It was in such bad repair, so rotten and falling to pieces that it could not be walked on. It took up almost half of the garden, and something needed to be done about it. So he set to work breaking up all the timbers, and making a big mess. Then there were many trips to take it all to the front drive, where a firm came with a lorry to cart it all away.

The space was then swept and cleared and the neighbour laid down rolls of turf. It had taken a lot of time and hard work, but now the garden looks very neat and tidy; it can be walked on and completely used. It had been well worth the effort! It made me think of the ‘trash-baskets’ we need to get rid of in our lives; the broken things we hang onto, perhaps out of habit, stubbornness or we just don’t realise how they are hindering us. We may be looking backwards, remembering what it was like before, but that chapter is now closed. If we would start to look forward and prepare for Tomorrow, we would see what the situation is now. Perhaps we are in a state of denial or refuse to get rid of those ‘trash baskets’?

Or we may feel it is too much trouble to change our thinking, it is easier to go on as we are doing now. If we would have to do everything in our own strength, that might be correct. But we have the Greater One – our Jesus – on our side who will make everything new in our lives, if we will have the courage, obedience and determination to give it into his hands, and let him change us for the better! It won’t happen overnight, and as the decking was broken up and looked a terrible mess at first, when we bring our ‘trash-baskets’ out into the open, things may look worse than they were! But that’s when the Holy Spirit takes over, cleansing our hearts, breaking old habits, doing his very special work!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, show us if we have ‘trash-baskets’ and rotten areas in our lives which need renewing or got rid of. Give us a fresh vision of our hearts as you see them. Forgive us and help us to pass on this gift of Forgiveness to others, we pray. Holy Spirit, blow your fresh breeze upon us, rejuvenating and quickening us, we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.