“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots” (Luke 23:34, NIV).

Yesterday, I notified him that I had missed a lab result and may have caused him harm. He nodded and did not react otherwise. Later, when I was giving him instructions during IV fluid administration, he grabbed my hand and prayed for me. Today, when he returned to the clinic for follow-up, he said. “I am so glad you are my doctor. No one else cares for me like you do. We are all human, and we all make mistakes. We just have to move on and not repeat them.”

I am humbled, grateful and amazed by my patient’s response. I want to be like him.

I admitted a mistake that may have caused him harm, and he showed me how a Christian responds.

He was patient and silent before he spoke.

He understood I had failed in my care for him without being a bad person. For him, my mistake did not define my character. (I so need to see that in others.)

Like him, I need to forgive.

Like him, as the Lord leads, I need to pray for and pray with those who have harmed me, and, like Christ, do so whether or not they acknowledge their guilt.

I need to be like this man whom I have harmed because he showed me how a disciple of Christ does forgiveness.

Dear Father,

Let me look on those who harm me with the heart of this patient and the heart of Jesus.

Amen