Last night I heard about a Sunday School teacher who was teaching on the 'how many times must I forgive' theme to a group of youngish children at a local Anglican church.  Part of their pattern of worship is that the children bring in to the service what they have made/coloured to show the congregation.

As the priest patiently waited at the front, a long piece of string was carriedinto the church, eventually stretching the entire length of the aisle.  On it the children had strung 490 hand-painted pieces of pasta.

This for me is a very graphic and powerful illustration of 70x7, and if it isn't in a book somehwere, it should be.

Firstly, the love that went in to counting out 490 pieces of macaroni/penne and painting them different colours sothat the exercise would be more pleasurable for the children.

Then the patience and collaboration of the children to string so many 'beads of forgiveness' together.

Lastly, the sight of this 'rosary of reconciliation' stretching for - I guess - around 50 feet would be an amazing way of visualising what Jesus meant.  

As a symbol of what forgiveness involves - creativity, love, patience, generosity and enormity (not the right word but I can't think of a better one) - this is the one of the best I've come across.