I’m Sorry


Lately I’ve noticed that I’ve been saying sorry quite a lot to my girls. Alyanna noticed this, too. She just asked me, “Mom! Why do you keep on saying sorry??” To which I answered, “Because I’ve been doing so many things wrong!

This is the usually how it goes:

Me: “You know, I have to say something very important to you. I have to say sorry for ________________.”

Alyanna: (She’s usually not comfortable when I get all mushy and “sensitive”) “Mom! Why do you keep saying sorry?? You said sorry already yesterday!”

Me: “Because what I did was wrong! I said sorry yesterday for ___________.  Now, I’m saying sorry for _____________.”

Alyanna: “Well, okay….but you’re still saying sorry too many times.”

Me: “Well, do you forgive me??”

Alyanna: Of course!

And then there’s Mika……

Me: “You know, I have to say something very important to you. I have to say sorry for ________________.”

Mika: “Okay….and you also have to say sorry for _____ and _______ and __________.” (all of which I’ve already said sorry for!!! Not fair!)

Me: “Yes! I already said sorry for those right?? You forgave me already right?”

Mika: *tries to relive the drama* “Yes…..but you sinned when you did that……..” *matching sad face*

Me: “Sorry na nga diba?? Do you forgive me??”

Mika: *forgets the drama* “Sure mom! Of course!

Isn’t it a relief that our kids are so much more gracious and forgiving than we usually are? 🙂  Of course, I don’t want to abuse this, and I do pray that I would get to that point of having to apologize less and less because I can finally do things right. But I know that it is more likely that I would find myself having to say sorry even until the time when they have families of their own, because I am, after all, a flawed parent….a human being.

This is precisely why I know that if I am to make Christianity attractive to my children, I would have to let them know at the onset that their mom isn’t a supermom who knows all and who is in total control of everything. They would have to know that the mother they look up to and have been called to obey, will most probably make mistakes on a daily basis. They would have to realize that if their faith will be based on mom and dad alone, they are….well……doomed.

If I am to make Christianity attractive to my children, I would have to point them to Christ. If my life is to be of any example to them, it would have to be in the light of me falling short, in need of the grace of God, and by this grace, I am empowered to grow and change towards Christlikeness.

If I am to make Christianity attractive to my children, I would have to get used to hearing myself say sorry, and finding myself saying “I forgive you” more and more.