“The same diamond looks different from different angles.”
A confession is a powerful tool for restoring broken relationships and for reconciliation. Not many people are happy saying I’m sorry. While some are hasty to apologize and often go back to hurting the person again, some would rather show you through their actions that they are sorry for hurting you and mean it. Whichever category you belong to, understand that the way we handle a conflict generates a bigger hurt than the actual problem itself.
If you’re serious about restoring a broken relationship, friendship, you should begin with acknowledging your own faults. Jesus Christ admonishes us: “First get rid of the log from your own eye; before you deal with the morsel in your friend’s eye.”
When you begin by submissively admitting your mistakes, it calms the other person’s resentment and disarms their attack because they were probably expecting you to be defensive. Don’t make a habit of making excuses or shifting the blame. Honestly own up to any role you have played in the conflict. Be accountable for your mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
As you confess your part of the conflict, please, do not attack the person but the problem. You cannot fix the situation if you’re consumed with fixing the blame. You have to choose between the two. Your point will never be heard or get accepted if you’re always speaking angrily, so choose your words carefully. A soft answer is always soothing to the heart.
When it comes to settling the conflict, how you say it, is as substantial as what you say. If you speak your words offensively, it will be received prickly. Never nag. Nagging never works. You’re never persuasive when you’re abrasive. Be cooperative in the resolve. Peace always has a price tag; it will costs you your dignity, ego, and self-centeredness.
For the sake of the relationship you desire to restore, be willing to accommodate, make adjustments, and show preference to what they need. You don’t have to agree on everything. You can disagree without being disagreeable. Whatever you do, do it in the spirit of peace. It sounds easy to do but it’s not. It would require lots of effort and courage on your part if you’ve made up your mind to bury the hatchet and restore your friendship.
Who do you need to forgive today? Do you have a friendship or relationship that needs restoring? Don’t wait another second. Wait no more, talk to God about that person. Then pick up your phone and begin the process of reconciliation and restoration with love.
God bless you.
Peace and Love
Photo Credit: Pixabay
