Why Is It Hard to Say I’m Sorry?

It’s no surprise that people hurt each other daily. It’s an unfortunate part of human nature. I’m not saying it’s a good thing, nor that it is always done purposefully. More often than not, we end up hurting others without even knowing, without even intending. Yet, an I’m sorry is hardly ever said. Why is that?

As we end this year’s Lent season, I can help but notice how God has transformed my heart. I proposed to myself that I would surrender to God completely. I’m sure you can imagine how difficult that has been.

Thankfully, I completed the consecration to Saint Joseph, and I started reading Saint Faustina’s Diary. I am at a loss for words by how influential those two saints have been in my Lenten journey.

One taught me the power to listen to God and always do His will, while the latter taught me to trust God’s mercy.

Those two things are fundamental to a solid relationship with Christ.

How does this relate to forgiveness?

You see, forgiveness is the essence of Christianity. In the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father), we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Now, think about the times you’ve wrong someone. Maybe they are too many to count, but how many of those times did you end up apologizing? Probably not all of them.

Like I said before, it’s hard to say I’m sorry. It’s hard to admit to our faults and mistakes. Our pride and sin get in the way of love for our neighbor. But God asked us to go beyond that pride, beyond our sin, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).

How can one overcome sin?

The best way of doing this is by asking God to forgive us first. It might sound weird after reading, “leave your gift there before the altar and go; first, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift,” but it is through God’s mercy that we can learn to be merciful to others. This is no other than what the sacrament of reconciliation does.

It could also be that we are not fully aware of the damage we’ve caused until we examine our consciousness. This is why before going to confession, one is supposed to take some time in prayers and analyze one’s thoughts and actions (or lack of).

Note: While there are many different guides for examination of conscious, I find this one to be the most helpful. (Please share below how you best prepare for confession!)

Don’t let the evil one win.

Satan’s greatest joy comes from us pushing away God. The more distant we become, the easier it is for him to feed us lies and negativity.

We must never forget our identity: we are children of God. In that, we possess all the blessings we’d ever need to defy temptations, and we find the strength to pick ourselves up when we fall.

So swallow your pride and let the Holy Spirit dwell in you. Let him show you how to love others and yourself. This will help you take responsibility for your actions, and it will arm you with the courage to amend whom you wronged. It’s essential to keep in mind that you are ultimately hurting a child of God when you hurt someone.

Nevertheless, forgive. Say sorry when you wrong. Don’t overthink it; just say it. You’ll be surprised how much good it can do for others and yourself; it’s even more significant for God.

O Holy Spirit, come into our hearts and teach us to ask for forgiveness!!