I don’t remember what he’d done, but Cole had done something he wasn't supposed to. I got down on his level and told him not only what he’d done was wrong, but why.

He patiently listened to what I had to say to him without a word. When I was through, he looked at me with his big blue eyes and asked, “Daddy, will you always forgive me?”

My heart caught in my throat. What was he asking me?

On the one hand, his question could be understood as his 3-year-old way of asking if I would forgive him of this specific transgression. Chloe and Cole often use words like “never” and “always,” not realizing they’re powerful words that limit or extend whatever it is they may be talking about.

On the other hand, his question could be understood in a much deeper sense. Would I, as his father, always forgive him when he does something wrong, no matter what it is?

Regardless of how I understood the question, the answer awaiting him was the same: “Yes.”

Yes, I would forgive him of this specific transgression. In fact, as I write this, I’ve forgiven him for whatever it was he had done. I can’t even remember what it was!

Yes, I would also forgive him no matter what he does. For the last few minutes I’ve taken a break from writing, trying to think of a scenario in which he might do something for which I could not or would not forgive him. I honestly haven’t been able to think of a single thing.

If he spoke ill of me, I’d forgive him. If he hurt me - physically or emotionally – I’d forgive him. If he struck me, spit in my face and said all kinds of hurtful things to me or about me, I’d still forgive him.

Why? Because I love him.

Also, because that’s the example Jesus set for us.

During his crucifixion, Jesus was struck, he was spit upon and had all sorts of insults hurled at him. On top of this, he was nailed to a cross and forced to die a gruesome form of death.

Yet what did he say while hanging on that cross? “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

It makes no difference what Cole does, I will forgive him. It’s what Jesus did for me ... and for you.

Parrish Myers is a local minister. His column appears biweekly in Sunday Life and at gainesvilletimes.com/life.