Did you know that ‘I’m Sorry’ is one of the hardest things to say? Along with ‘I’m Sorry’, ‘I Need Help’ is another tough statement. Stay tuned because I plan to write about that next week. For the sake of this article, I would like to talk about the power of forgiveness and how three little words can change your life and the lives of those you are raising.
We all make mistakes. It’s true, as hard as it is to believe, you and I make mistakes. We say the wrong thing, we do the wrong thing, we unintentionally hurt people and we even intentionally hurt people. Intentionally usually happens with our words and you know how passionate I am about speaking life over people and to people. For now, let’s focus on recognising that we all make mistakes. My hope is that as we explore this conversation we will arrive at a place of being okay with saying ‘I’m Sorry’ and extending the hand of forgiveness.
When it comes to saying ‘I’m Sorry’ we all struggle with it because it is admitting that we own we’ve done, we are saying, ‘I was wrong’. It’s a vulnerable place; it’s exposing, and it’s hard. Why is it hard? I think it’s because once we open that door we are giving the person we have hurt, permission to either say something back or to perhaps shrug it off. Leaving us feeling exposed that then leads to embarrassment. In saying ‘I’m Sorry,’ our hope is that we can reconcile back to where we were before the incident, words or whatever the case may be.
Saying ‘I’m Sorry’ isn’t a place of weakness, rather it is an area of strength. Being vulnerable enough to own our actions, reactions, words, etc., signifies growth and maturity.
If we are talking about saying ‘I’m Sorry’ then forgiveness is a big part of that. Why is forgiveness so important and why is it something we should give? Forgiveness is more about you than it is for the person who hurt you. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what they did or said didn’t hurt, it means that you’ll be okay even though you’ve walked through it and eventually all will be okay.
Forgiveness is also a place of strength. Extending forgiveness speaks volumes about your character, your mind and your soul. Extending forgiveness is powerful and when given, experienced and lived its power knows no end and it truly is more about what happens to you rather than the person you are forgiving.
Why is it important to teach our kids to say ‘I’m Sorry’ and to ‘Forgive’? It’s important because life can be tough, there will be hurtful situations and circumstances that will arise, life isn’t fair and challenges will present themselves. If this is true, and as parents we know it is, then showing them by example what saying I’m sorry looks like, what forgiveness looks like is a beautiful life-lesson.
In your homes, I encourage you to be the first to utter the words, “I’m Sorry,” be the one who is willing to forgive and let go. Don’t be afraid to say “I’m Sorry’ to your children. It’s needed for the times you lose it in the car on the way to school or even after you’ve stepped on the 40th piece of lego that is strewn around the house. Another time is after or during a fight or argument with your partner, and this is perhaps one of the best life lessons you will show your children.
Walking in forgiveness and using the powerful words of I’m Sorry will change your life for the better. Now let’s all make it happen.
Much love,
Susanna
