“Never Having to Say You’re Sorry” (10/02/2025)

I remember going to see the movie “Love Story” with my husband. I liked it until Jenny told her husband Oliver who was apologizing for losing his temper that “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” That did it for me. I’d been married for less than a year, but even I knew that wasn’t so. Love doesn’t mean that we quit making mistakes nor does it mean that we instantly become saints.

I know that there are few days between my first word and today that I didn’t owe at least one person an apology. Some are not that serious like when I always manage to get between my husband and his destination in the kitchen whether it’s the fridge or the microwave or the cupboard. It’s like I have a magnet in my knees and my legs take me wherever he’s heading. Some are more serious like when I am not listening when I should or when I am oblivious to what others are trying to do and actually make it harder for them to do it.  And some are really serious such as saying something I shouldn’t or not speaking up when I should and could.

One of the things I am most grateful to my faith for is an awareness of the need for reflection, for admission of error/sin, and the need for seeking forgiveness. Daily, my prayer reminds me: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Jesus gave us a prayer that stressed what we must daily consider and seeking forgiveness and giving forgiveness is there. “I’m sorry” is a big part of my faith and my spiritual journey. I offer my “I’m sorry” early and often and I know I am to forgive others early and often.

My LORD, my Savior, Jesus Christ, knows I make mistakes. He knows I have to seek forgiveness daily and He calls me to forgive daily. It is part of the journey. It is definitely part of “the Way and the Truth and the Life.”

So, as we begin this new day and realize it’s challenging out there – let us brush up our “I’m sorry” and our sincerity when we utter it. Let us be the disciples He calls us to be.

Love does not mean never having to say you’re sorry. It never did. That was just a line in a movie.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.