An Apology

“I apologize.”

But was it sincere?

It was stated callously

And carried a sneer.

Is this an apology?

“I’m sorry,” he said,

But almost inaudibly

 “That you’re not dead.”

When a teacher or parent

Forces a child to say sorry

Tell me, seriously,

Is that an apology?

I see no value in “sorry”

If it is not true,

If there is no contriteness

Would you?

You probably saw the video

Of a parent and his child,

He wanted her to say sorry

But she openly defied.

Finally he wore her down

And she said, “I’m sorry.”

But was she truly sorry?

Was that an apology?

The child was then bumped

By a woman in a hurry

And on the woman went

Without even saying “sorry”.

The child wanted to know

Why she had to say “sorry”

While an adult, it would appear,

Did not offer an apology.

When requested by the father

The woman adamantly refused,

This behavior by the adult

Made the child more confused.

  

At the child’s request

The lady said, “I’m sorry.”

This after much ado

She finally gave an apology.

She hugged the child

As she contritely said it,

This was finally an apology

Given in the right spirit.

As she embraced the child

She actually began to weep,

Contriteness is not superficial

It is actually quite deep.

It’s like real repentance

The godly sorrow for sin,

God accepts our contriteness…

We have this word from Him.

Examine Psalm 34 verse 18

And you won’t miss it,

God pardons the person

That is of a contrite spirit.

An apology truly spoken

Is never ever coerced,

Sorry has little or no value

If ever it has to be forced.

It comes out of awareness

That one has done wrong,

This is followed by “I’m sorry,”

Minus the sneer and frown.

Its genuineness must be felt

By the one offended

And it definitely will be

Once an apology is intended.

Be eager to say “sorry”

When an apology is required,

It will calm the rough waters

And you’ll truly be admired.

Stewart Russell © September 2018