I’ve lost count of the many times I’ve failed as a parent.

There were numerous moments in my children’s upbringing where I wasn’t able to protect, help, or prevent outside sources from inflicting pain of some kind on them. But, there were just as many moments where I was the cause of their grief and turmoil.

Moments where I spoke too harshly, made decisions rashly, or wasn’t present (mentally/emotionally) to give them the maternal support or comfort they were needing.

Parenting is a crash course in our sinfulness. We are broken humans raising tiny, broken humans. It seems like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it?

And while failing as a parent is unavoidable, the power of an apology is the golden thread that binds our hearts together and helps us navigate a lifetime of periodic hurts.

I’m sorry.

The two words that can make nearly anything better.

Please forgive me.

Three more words that are like salve to the heart and soul.

Those five words can take every moment of parenting failure and redeem them for good. Those simple words open the door for hurts to be healed and hearts to be restored.

Pride would tempt us to not apologize and offers us a myriad of reasons why we don’t need to; humility beckons us to genuinely love our kids and show them that we are vulnerable, human, broken and not above mistakes or sin ourselves.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is I John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (CSB)

God is faithful to forgive us.

Isn’t that something as parents we deeply want our children to know and understand?

And we model that by example every time we apologize. We set the stage to share Gospel-centered love and forgiveness with them and help them understand why Jesus died on that cross so long ago.

Unfortunately, in this life, we’re going to hurt each other. Understanding the power of an apology, the spiritual lesson that can be gleaned every time, and the continuing deep work that God is doing in our hearts (and our kids) cannot be overstated.

Just imagine how much better our world would be if everyone practiced the power of an apology a little bit more.

Until next time, Grace and Glory!