A is for Apologizing for past offenses......... Have You Ever had to Eat Crow???

Have you ever had to eat crow? 

No really have you ever had to go back and apologize for something you said to your spouse that caused offense?....and once there realized that there was more apologizing that was going to ensue?  I think this is an area where almost every woman if she is really honest with herself struggles.  I have caught myself apologizing to Jason for one thing and at the same time feeling justified for being angry about something else..... This is the place where we are called to cleanse ourselves of all unrighteousness. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

 So how does one accomplish that?  God has worked on me to confess it to him so that I can be set free from it. 

I mean really, does anyone truly enjoy being angry?  I think not! 

I think it is the worst feeling in the world to be in the midst of an apology while working on the next angle of where I am going to be right and Jason, wrong.  We are called to leave the fight there in asking for forgiveness and submitting to it!  If we focus on who will win the next round we are stuck right where we are!  Forgiveness is about unity!  It took me a few years to realize If our marriage isn’t thriving no one is winning!  It was a Eureka Moment when I realized that Jason and I really were supposed to be on the same team.  Knowing that is half the battle.  Standing firm when satan tries to tear you down here often times is the other half. 

Don’t worry about whether your spouse thinks you are sincere.  Pray for them to be able to receive your apology after you have offered it.  Sometimes in the heat of an argument Jason has held me accountable for something I have said in the past that was hurtful.  I have had to take stock of what he is saying in that moment and offer a sincere apology for something I may not have realized was hurtful or misunderstood.  It is in the moments after our conversation is over that I have the best opportunity to lift that apology before God and ask him to help Jason know in his heart that I really meant it and that I truly love him and want to show him respect!

There isn’t a greater feeling than when you can apologize for an offense known or unknown and move forward knowing that you are right with God, your husband and your mind and heart are clear!

Blessings~ R