“I'm sorry.” I've heard it said that as Canadians, those words, whether in simple courtesy or in situations where we feel that we've offended someone, are often on the tip of our tongues.
As an older adult, when doing a life review, I can't count how many times I have used those words.
Saying them to myself is often the most difficult. It's not easy to “let go” of all the shame, guilt and feelings of wrongdoing, but being able to look in the mirror and to say those two simple words, is often a cleansing experience.
“Forgiveness is a quiet courage—the gentle yet powerful choice to release the weight of those feelings whether it rests on another’s shoulders or our own. It does not erase the wound, but it loosens the chains that bind the heart to pain. Reconciliation is the tender work of rebuilding—between two people, or within the chambers of one’s own soul—where trust is patiently restored and hope dares to bloom again”.
Sometimes reconciliation is not possible, yet forgiveness still sets us free, allowing us to walk unburdened into the light of a new day. And when we learn to extend mercy both outward and inward, we mirror the heart of God, whose love makes all things new. In that grace, peace is not just a possibility—it becomes a promise”.
I hear that promise in the words of a hymn related to the story of the Prodigal son:” Come back to me, with all your heart, don’t let fear keep us apart”.
Al Micus
