SORRY

Why does saying a sincere SORRY is so difficult.

Dear reader,
This post might be long but as you read, ponder through.

These few months, I’ve been observing and seeing things happening around me after a church camp that I attended in June with my family.

Much had happened, some deserves to be identified while some is just good not to mentioned about it.

New friendships were established, existing ones deepened, while some could simply just cold-turkey it.

It came across to me that when we sort out a misunderstanding due to whatever reasons that one may have.

It is vital for the one just to say: “sorry” and be sincere about it- period. Adding more or trying to reason more DOES NOT justified or MAKE you more righteous. It makes you evenmore unrepentance. Get it?

If this is not done in a proper manner, it will worsen the entire issue. It will cause things to drift apart.

To the extreme, the one who apologized will be deem as a hypocrite, charlatan and a “white wash tomb”.

So what's the main reason behind for diluting the SORRY?
I believe this word called “PRIDE” Spelled P. R. I. D. E.

The middle letter is “I”

Pride starts with I, me.

Let's see what the bible has to say about this…

Leviticus 26:19
I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.

2 Kings 19:22
Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!

2 Chronicles 26:16
But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 32:26
Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Isaiah 2:11
The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

It very sure that the Lord opposes the pride and give grace to the humble.
(Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.")

I’ve learnt this BIG TIME when I dealt with one of my staff many years back.
I ate humble pie but I experienced the grace of God too. I’ve learnt to say sorry despite my position. I humbled myself to say "sorry". Not easy, but i've learnt.
I am reminded that I need to keep stock of myself.
I can take pride of what I am doing but I must always know that all things come from God.

But when it comes to saying sorry or coming to term with my fault (if it’s really mine) I’ve learnt not to dilute this word “Sorry, I am wrong”. I choose not to use words like “I am regretful for causing…”, “I apologized for…”, “I am remorseful that…” etc… these words seems ok but they fall short of what you wanted to say and convey. It stops short what you want to express from your heart.

When you say “Sorry, I am wrong”, it expresses the real bare condition of yourself candidly. It means you give up your rights to pursue or to fight or to argue back. It means that you are putting your head on the chopping board.

When you say “Sorry”, it shows the maturity of the person and the sincerity of the act.

That’s the reason why we are teaching and educating Joash to say “sorry” with an outward action whenever he misbehaved. Those who seen him do that with the action and say “sorrie” will finds him such an amusing child. (Yes, I can see those smiles on your face when you read this.)
We’ll always hug him and say: “you are forgiven”.

Now back to the one to forgive…
Do you know that more grace and humility is required and needed for that person to render forgiveness?

It’s not easy to forgive and to let go because of our fallen nature.
Our fallen nature tends to withhold but a resurrected nature of a renewed mind will choose to release and forgive.

Forgiveness means I choose not to exercise my rights against you.
Forgiveness means I choose not to take up issue on you.
Forgiveness means I choose to humble myself and submit myself to God.
Forgiveness means I choose to set you free.
Forgiveness means I choose to set myself free.
Forgiveness means I choose to set myself free and applying the grace of God in my life.
Forgiveness means allowing me to be set free and restore by my Healer.

Healer
Words and Music by Mike Guglielmucci

Verse 1:
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You I trust in You

Chorus
I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

Bridge:
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands


Friends, let’s learn to say “sorry” when we are wrong. Admit and be sincere about it. Don’t justify your wrong further. (“Don’t say things like although I did no wrong or don’t know why I’m wrong… But I still apologize. Cut that nonsense out! Who will want to admit one’s wrong?)
Friends, learn to forgive because forgiveness set you free from bondage and further health complication.

Till then, will come back for more interesting stuff...
Blessings to you.