Like You Mean It

This will probably sound familiar.  Two little kids are fighting.  The insults start flying.  "You're stupid."  "You're Ugly."  An adult intervenes with, "Say you're sorry."  The response is either a bitter, "I'm sorry." or a sarcastic, "I'm sorry that you're stupid." If you really are sorry, you have to say it like you mean it.

We all mess up from time to time.  Sometimes it's a little inconvenience, but sometimes it's worse and sometimes way worse.  As we go through life we leave a wake behind us.  We affect those that we touch and most people affect most people in a positive way.  Or at least neutrally, but we all have those times where it just isn't good.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Seeking out forgiveness from others is a tough thing.  In many ways it is harder than seeking out forgiveness from God.  After all God has promised that He will forgive you and His promises can be trusted.  Other people have made no such promises and even the most honorable of persons are still not God.

So seeking out forgiveness is a risk.  You may be rebuffed and rejected.  You may be looking for peace and they may be looking for vengeance.  But still we need to try.  We cannot control how others respond, but still we need to know that we made the effort.

Watch this clip from Pastor Sparks.

In the essay, All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, author Robert Fulghum lists several basic life rules that we all should live by.  Among these rules is "Say you are sorry when you hurt someone." It's a simple rule that we all should remember.  And I would add that when you say that you are sorry, say it like you mean it.