apologies. real ones. amazing.

So.... I have permission to tell this story, however I will not be using names. so this persons name is going to be Dorcas for the sake of having a name (it was the worst biblical name I could think of...) ;) anyway on with the story.

Dorcas called and left a voicemail today saying that she needed my forgiveness for talking about me in a bad light only to make herself look better in the conversation, she was crying, she knows me enough to know that voicemail was good other wise I probably just would have laughed it off (even though my feelings were hurt, it's how I was raised, that's another discussion all on it's own) anyway... Dorcas sincerely apologized and asked me to forgive her and think about it for a while before I do and to call her and we'd talk.

Wow. let's say I haven't gotten a call like that in my life. ever. not ever. My normal reaction started right when I heard the call, I laughed but when she told me to THINK about it before I called I did. I was hurt. Mind you, I had NO idea what was said about me and in fact it didn't matter it was the hurt that someone that's supposed to be on your team, isn't or isn't acting like it. ;) anyway... So I got over it. like I do. I figured she was just in a spot where things get out of hand and you say stupid stuff that you're not really thinking but then after the fact, you get that CONVICTION and you feel terrible and you ask God for forgiveness but unlike Dorcas I don't know that I've ever sucked it up and admitted to the person that I've been a bad friend.

So I called Dorcas and started off with a joke. like I do. I believe I told her that she should at least have the curteousy to say stuff like that around me so I could be there to whack her ;). Dorcas was a little teary (so was I, she just probably didn't know that) and you know what. she taught me something. MAJOR THOUGHT. how different would the world be if we did what Dorcas did and sucked it up and felt some SHAME for things we do. I think feeling bad for the things we do is good, it makes us less likely to do it again! right??

So apologize and ask forgiveness for the stupid hurtful things you do (and you know it happens!) and teach your kids to suck it up and apologize. they need to know that yucky feeling in the pit of your tummy. God put it there for a reason.

oh and by the way, Dorcas, I love you and you're very forgiven. Thanks for teaching me something BIG. again.