Asking for forgiveness

Today, I read an article by well-known Christian author, Stacy McDonald found here on her blog about saying "I'm sorry".  It made me think of how my husband & I have learned to teach our children to ask for forgiveness rather than say, "I'm sorry".  Here is why...

It's so easy to just say "I'm sorry" & seemingly be "let off the hook", like Stacy explains so well in her article.  When you think about it, it's much harder to ask for forgiveness from the offended party.  This helps make it a 2-way response to the offense.  As much as the offender must ask for forgiveness, it is also just as important that the offended must forgive the offender.  When we just say, "I'm sorry", the offended person is not really given the opportunity to respond.  The usual response is, "that's okay"...but, is it really?  Of course it isn't.  So, asking for forgiveness involves BOTH parties to acknowledge the offense AND offers an opportunity for genuine reconciliation, which is really the goal of all those involved.

I really like how she put together the list of how NOT to ask for forgiveness and especially the 5 statements of how to come to the offended, making sure you have taken the plank out of your own eye!

It is so helpful to review all of this because we are all so prone to offend others each & every day.  Praise be to God the Father for sending His Son to be the ultimate example of forgiveness!  Thank you Jesus!