Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry"!

My word for today is: APOLOGIZE – to express regret for something one has done wrong; saying “sorry”, asking for forgiveness; asking for pardon

Today is the last day of February, the month I deemed early on as the LOVE month. What a better way to end it than with an appeal for us to live in self-awareness of our words and actions. The saying goes "Time heals all wounds”, but not all. Sometimes a stronger salve than time is needed to restore wholeness and full health to those we may have hurt, intentionally, and even those things that weren’t meant to hurt. Maybe it was just a curt remark or some smack talk that seemed playful at the time, but those little remarks can sting and be hurtful. At the time it seemed so innocent in our eyes, but by the look in their eyes, we know we hurt them. The question is “Do we let it go as playful fun, or are we quick to APOLOGIZE?”

One of my favorite all-time movies was "Love Story" (1970) with Ryan O'Neal (Oliver) and Ali McGraw (Jenny). Oliver blamed himself for keeping Jenny from her music career and when he was apologizing, Jenny's love for him was far greater to her. That's when she said that famous line. “Love means never having to say you're sorry". At that moment in the movie, I was moved to tears, but, in reality, “Jenny” got it all wrong.

Love doesn't mean “never having to say “I’m Sorry”, and it’s sure not a line that God EVER uses. APOLOGIZING and expressing regret for the mistakes we make is the language of love. God's love. In fact, Jesus APOLOGIZED for mankind when He cried out, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

On this last day of this month of love, I'm driving home the importance of being a lover. The Apostle Paul told us how: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). And, when we miss that mark, LOVE means ALWAYS saying "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

In our world of social and political hostilities with all of the rash comments, quick retorts back and forth to each other, this is the time when we, who live above that fray, should be setting the example of mending torn and broken hearts. When we say to our brothers and our sisters, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me," there is hope for healing, restoration, and reconciliation. May we let go of our need to always be right, cast aside our pride and say in words and actions, "I APOLOGIZE! Please forgive me." And, by the way, from our heart when we say "I'm so sorry, Father God, for the mistakes I've made and change my habits so I use my tongue to speak hope and favor upon others", we'll see the greatest example of love ever given when He opens His arms of love to us and says "I forgive you....now go and sin no more."

Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry"!

Last week I shared about a Pastor sharing with a bride and groom at their wedding ceremony. He said, "People will tell you 'Love means never having to say you're sorry. That's garbage!" He was hilarious, but he got the message across -- to be like Christ means being quick to apologize and quick to forgive.

Those words, "Love means never having to say you're sorry" is from one of my favorite romantic movies of all time, "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neal (Oliver) and Ali McGraw (Jenny). Oliver blamed himself for keeping Jenny from her music career and when apologizing, Jenny's love for Oliver was far greater to her and that's when she said that famous line.

As beautiful as those words were in the movie, it's just not a line God uses. Apologizing and expressing regret for the mistakes we make is the language of love. Too often we act out carelessly or say something harsh or insensitive, yet we go on our way and being sorry for our mistakes is left far behind. To this day, someone may be carrying a broken heart because of something we said or did in a moment of weakness.

We're still in this month of love, so, yes, I'm driving home the importance of being a lover. First of all "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.(1 Corinthians 13:4). And, when we miss that mark, LOVE means ALWAYS saying "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

There is so much political and social hostility going on in our country and world today. With the rash comments, animosities and gossip running rampant, never has there been more reasons to say to our brothers and sisters, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me." There is sweet healing, restoration, and reconciliation that comes when we let go of our need to always be right, cast aside our pride and say in words and actions, "I'm so sorry! Please forgive me."

LOVE Forgives

Yesterday, my post was about apologizing, saying AND meaning those words, "I'm so sorry!" Today's is the reciprocating action.....being fast to forgive. How is that possible when we may have been hurt so deeply?

I've read many incredible stories about people who forgave in the most heart-wrenching situations, especially when forgiving would seem so unnecessary on a human level. The drunk driver whose thoughtless ways resulted in the death of a spouse or child, but the family member forgave the killer. Or the one who was betrayed by their spouse but in God's love, the other spouse forgave. And, today they have a dream-come-true marriage together.

On October 2, 2006, Charles Carl Roberts walked into an Amish school in rural Pennsylvania and shot ten young school girls, killing five of them. On the same day of the shooting, a grandfather of one of the girls who had died, told other relatives, "We must not think evil of this man." Another member of the community visited the shooter's family that day to comfort them and offer forgiveness. Dozens more attended his funeral and offered to give financial support to his widow. One member of the community later said, "I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss, but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts."

I heard it quoted: "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." Unwillingness to forgive only eats away at our hearts and souls, while forgiveness frees us. No greater forgiver was Jesus Christ -- Who after the lies, the rejections, the beatings, the denials and the pain, said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

When we have been hurt, we face the same challenge that those who we've hurt faced. Will we respond with kindness, compassion and forgiveness? And, will forgiving become a way of life for us? The Apostle Paul said, "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." Ephesians 4:32. Sure seems like a tall order, but one that comes with sweet rewards. We can move on with our life, have freedom from the pain of the past, enjoy greater happiness in the present and greater health and well-being. I'd say that's a good pay-back!

Love Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

Those are the words from one of my favorite romantic movies of all time, "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neal (Oliver) and Ali McGraw (Jenny). Oliver blamed himself for keeping Jenny from her music career and when apologizing, Jenny's love for Oliver was far greater to her and that's when she said that famous line.

As beautiful as those words were in the movie, it's just not a line God uses. His words are more like "Love is quick to apologize and fast to forgive." Apologizing and expressing regret for the mistakes we make is true love language. Too often we act out carelessly or say something harsh or insensitive, yet we go on our way and being sorry for our mistakes is left far behind. To this day, someone may be carrying a broken heart because of something we said or did in a moment of weakness.

First of all LOVE is kind, patient, does not boast, does not envy, is not proud, is not rude, but when we miss that mark, LOVE means ALWAYS saying "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

In this political year, the rash comments, animosities and gossip are running rampant, Never has there been more reasons to say to our brothers and sisters, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me." There is sweet healing, restoration, and reconciliation that comes when we let go of our need to always be right, cast aside our pride and say in words and actions, "I'm so sorry!"