Sorry Doesn't Get It
It all began in the dugout. Two five year old girls donning their Pirates softball uniforms unaware of what was happening out on the diamond, not caring if their team won or lost, could be heard arguing with each other. The content of the disagreement no one remembers. One of those little unhappy girls was my youngest daughter, Sami. If you've ever been to a Junior League softball game you know that the action isn't out on the field. The real action is in the dugout where the little ones are playing in the dirt or goofing around with their teammates. In this case a dispute ensued. My eldest 10 year old daughter, Hannah was in the dugout attempting to corral the herd. It became obvious she was the mediator as she strived to get the two to reconcile. As any good negotiator would do, she asked them to say they were sorry to each other. "I'm sorry", blurted out the player as she threw another piece of gum into her mouth. Hannah, feeling confident she had almost resolved the squabble turned to her sister and said, " Sami, what do you say?" With hands on hips, eyes glaring in her teammate's eyes, she yells, " Well, 'sowry' doesn't get it!" (Sami struggled with pronouncing her "r's" correctly when she was young).
How many times have we thrown that word sorry around with really no meaning attached to it? We say it without thinking about how we may have truly hurt someone. It's a word that has almost become as common as "How are you?". Just like a greeting, we carelessly throw out the word giving little thought to how we have affected the victim. On the other hand if we have been on the receiving end of an unfelt sorry, we might want to echo Sami's words, "Well sorry doesn't get it."
"Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16 (NIV). No matter what end of the sorry we may be on it's important to note that we need to be authentic and try to understand each other and be empathetic of one another. Rather than tossing out a "sorry" to quickly make amends, we could pray and ask God to show us how to repent for our actions or words, recognizing that we've sinned against another person; or how to accept an apology, truly forgiving the offender, as God has forgiven us.
Prayer: Father, God I know that your work cannot continue if there is discord among your children. Allow Your Holy Spirit to speak to us and to reveal any hurt we may have caused to our brothers and sisters. Help us to forgive others who may have wronged us so that we may live in harmony to continue the work you have set before us. Amen
Bible Verse: 1 Jn 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Col. 3:13 (NIV) Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.