Late last year, we bought a coffee machine that came with a milk frother.
It’s become a favourite device of mine and we use it on a regular basis.
After I’ve made Karen and myself a cup of coffee, I have a decision to make.
Do I clean the milk frother now or do I wait until I need to use it again?
I can do it now, but it’s inconvenient and I want to drink my coffee.
Or I can wait until later, but it will be a little bit harder to clean the longer I leave it.
It’s much the same as apologising.
If I’ve done the wrong thing, acted insensitively or perhaps even accidentally caused offence to someone, I can choose to say sorry immediately or wait until a more convenient time.
If I do it straight away, it will be uncomfortable, but it will be done and the relationship will be reconciled.
Or I can wait until the right time (which never comes), choosing to ignore the reality that the longer I wait, the harder it will get. Sometimes, we wait so long that we never quite get around to it.
We all make mistakes. We all say the wrong thing and even the nicest person occasionally inadvertently offends someone.
When you do, learn to say sorry straight away.
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6 comments
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February 13, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Lynne
I always say sorry right away when I accidentally offended someone. When I say sorry it’s always from my heart. And for me the best time to say sorry is the time when you realize and accept to yourself that you did something wrong.
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February 14, 2012 at 10:39 am
Darren Poke
That’s a great way to live, thanks Lynne.
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February 14, 2012 at 1:56 am
Debbie
Such good advice, Coach D! Thank you! I agree that the longer you wait the harder it is. And the hurt sets in and is harder to remove. We don’t want that. Praying my sorry’s come as quickly as my offenses! God bless you!
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February 14, 2012 at 10:39 am
Darren Poke
Thanks Debbie.
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February 15, 2012 at 4:23 am
granbee
You are totally correct in saying we should apologize promptly. However, I still struggle with those times when the other party refuses to accept my apology. I guess I just have to let it go, mourn a little, and keep on truckin’, with compassions, right?
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February 15, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Darren Poke
Thanks Rose, just remember, you’re only responsible for saying sorry in the right spirit, not for the response of others.
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