Day 20 – Making amends to the people we have harmed is not always easy, and it certainly isn’t fun. However, due to our hurting them in some way, for example, by causing them hardship or pain, we sometimes find it necessary to make some effort to make things right.
Occasionally, an apology is all that is required. We can simply say a sincere, “I’m sorry,” and that is the end of it, but many times it takes a lot more. Sometimes we have to be willing to perform some action, perhaps a lot of action.
Let me tell you a little story about something that happened to a friend of mine. There came a time that he stole $1000 in silver coins from his wife. At the time, he was a very active alcoholic, and he wanted the money to party and celebrate for a while, but once he sobered up in AA and started making amends like AA people do, he thought he could just apologize to his wife, and it would be all right.
He repeatedly said he was sorry and she would always say, “I forgive you,” but he never felt like she meant it, and he kept feeling like he should do more, and then someone suggested to him that he repay the money. He thought about that, and decided to try it. At the time, they were doing well financially and he could afford it.
Therefore, he went to the bank and purchased 1000 silver dollars just like the ones he had previously stolen. Once he gave it to his wife, she smiled and said, “Now I really forgive you.” Therefore, that demonstrates very well how sometime a simple apology will not be enough.
Meditation for today: I need to be willing to make any amends necessary, in order to mend relationships.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me to make any amends I need to make, and pay back any debts I owe.
Steve Holder 