I'm Sorry . . .

Somewhere lost in our list of vocabulary words over the course of time seems to be the words, 

"I'm sorry."  One of my recent all time favorite decals has been this:   

In our household, we are real, we do make mistakes, but we say, I'm sorry and we forgive.  We do really loud, we are patient and we LOVE.  One of the best gifts we could have give our children was to lead by example and as Martin Luther King Jr. quotes "Forgiveness for us is not an occasional act, but is a constant attitude."  I'm sure our children will recall during their younger years, their Daddy making them hold hands for a period of time until forgiveness set in.  It's the most amazing thing, how quickly they were then willing to forgive and forget!

Bishop T.D. Jakes says it best, 'unforgiveness unchecked becomes a cancer in the soul.' Unforgiveness doesn't stay in one isolated area where it started; it spreads into other areas of life.  It begins to affect our children, relationships, moods and behavior.  It eats up personality and creativity. Unforgiveness empowers history at the expense of destiny!  That's too much of a price for me to pay!

Most of the time, we will have to forgive, not because we feel like it, but simply because the Word says we must and every time it must be an act of faith.  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses, Mark 11:25-26.  I decided a long time ago, that an apology doesn't always mean I'm wrong, it simply means I value my relationships, my children, my marriage, my future and destiny more than my ego!

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.  Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.  
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.           Mother Teresa

Make a confession to activate the power of forgiveness:  Father, in the Name of Jesus, I make a fresh commitment to You to live in peace and harmony - with my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, with my friends, associates and family.  I let go of all bitterness, resentment and unkindness in any form.  Father, I ask Your forgiveness.  By faith I receive it.  As I forgive and release all who have wronged and hurt me, I ask You to forgive and release them, in Jesus' Name.      

Mary McIver