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.”