Say “I’m Sorry”

I really blew it that day.

I have blown it many times, but the lesson I learned on this particular day is priceless to me. Without that lesson, our family would look much different today.

Happening more than three decades ago, the details are fuzzy, but as far as I can recall I got frustrated and yelled at our precious two-year-old daughter.

I felt horrible.

When my husband came home from work, I told him what I had done and how terrible I felt.

Then he said it.

“Well did you apologize?”

Silence.

Apologize? I never thought of that!

(Honestly, I don’t think I had ever used the words, “I’m sorry” before. But that’s another story.)

I thought about it.

Then I got down on my knees where I could look right into her eyes and humbled myself to my two-year-old daughter.

“I am sorry,” I said.

Then I hugged her. She hugged me back and I explained to her that she could say, “I forgive you.”

Then I felt better. And everything was alright. The power of a simple apology.

The secret sauce is not found in perfection, but in the humility to admit when you are wrong and apologize.

You are going to blow it with your kids. You know that already, right?

Blowing it is not what matters. What matters is what you do with it.

Will you humble yourself and apologize the next time?

If you will, let me tell you what is in store.

First of all, peace is in store. Once those heartfelt words roll off your tongue there is a new and refreshing peace in your soul.

But there is even more.

Before long, you will hear your child apologizing to his siblings, and to you. As homeschool moms who are willing to humble ourselves and apologize, we are opening the door for our children to do the same.

You will create a household culture of apologies and forgiveness when wrongs are committed.

While sometimes it’s easy enough to apologize, there are times when I HATE to apologize! Since I hold myself accountable to apologizing when I wrong someone, the pain of the potential apology sometimes keeps me from saying the thoughtless thing in the first place.

Recently, I apologized to one of my adult daughters. She and I had hit a rough patch with some things a couple of years ago. Things seemed okay since, but through some other circumstances, I became aware of how she must have been hurt by some of my words and actions. I approached her, and with sincere tears, apologized. She was so sweet and gracious to hug me, forgive me, and tell me that those things had been used for good in her life.

Maybe I could have gotten by without apologizing. I am not sure my conscience would have let me, but let’s just say it did. I would have missed that opportunity to set things right, and I would have missed that beautiful moment.

Are you willing to commit to apologize the next time you blow it? That simple commitment could change the trajectory of your life and the lives of your children.