Whose Fault is it?
Matthew felt guilty and he needed help. Many bad things had happened in his life. Some things were his fault because he stole and cheated. But sometimes it was the others’ fault as they scolded him, despised him or made him do something. That is why Matthew felt similarly to a sick person.
Do you feel guilty too?
Can you distinguish what is your fault, somebody else’s fault or nobody’s fault? Try this on the following examples. Put the situations you are responsible for and that are your fault to the right, those that are not your fault to the left and leave those that are nobody’s fault in the middle.
Do you still feel guilty about something?
Sometimes boys and girls feel bad about something they have done. And other times you can feel guilty about things that are not really your fault. For example, when their parents separated, they might think: “They split up because of me, it’s my fault.” But in reality it is a decision two adults made. It might have made you sad, but it is not your fault.
Sometimes adults may make you or teach you to do something that is wrong. You don’t want to do it but they tell you that you have to or that it is alright. Maybe they even tell you not to tell anyone. Inside you feel guilty and bad. Again, don’t blame yourself. It is not your fault.
But you know that there are wrong things that you have done. Nobody made you do them. You need to tell God that you are sorry and ask Him to forgive you and accept you as His child.
If these things happen to you and that is why you feel guilty or bad, tell an adult you trust about it.