Apology Accepted

Apology Accepted

I often frequent a used bookstore located by my house. The man that runs it, will always ask me questions. Often he says, "I don't know how you do it." "How do you remember this?" But the question, "Have you always been like this?" Stopped me cold.

Sadly, my testimony is one littered with junk, scars for me, and scars for those that knew me for many years.. yes even down to my childhood. Matter in fact, if I could have a dollar for every person I have hurt in my past..I would be richer then Bill Gates!!

So why would I even go here? I have such a interesting bitter sweet story to tell you.. and how it turned out.

In my School days..I knew a girl..that just wanted to be my friend. Her name was Amy Smith. Now, because I wanted to fit in with the crowd..I gave her such a hard time..being mean, saying mean things.. and yet..I was never part of the crowd.. the "crowd" still rejected me. Yet still, Amy hung on my mind for years to come.

So browsing through "Facebook" the other day..I stopped on a name, and a picture..and the memories came sweeping back.."Amy Smith".

So I clicked on her and sent her a friend request.. not expecting her to accept...and yet she did. Right away God convicted me to apologize to her for the past.. and I went to God in prayer for 24 hours of "HOW" to apologize to someone I had hurt so bad many years ago. You know, God gave me the words.. and it was the right thing to do. I messaged her..and she returned my message with a reply. Her pain is still quite evident in her typing..and yet.. she forgave me. Apology Accepted...

Now, I want to ask each and everyone out there.. is there someone in your past..that you have hurt, that you have not made right? It may have been years ago...but Amy and I can both attest that WORDS LEAVE SCARS! Words hurt powerfully bad..and words can destroy...

However, words can also build up.. rebuild.. heal and encourage also.

Just like the words from the song, "I am not who I was" By Brandon Heath, I am wanting to build a lasting friendship with Amy.. and instead of words that hurt her...I want to give her words that a friend that loves you can speak..and mean from the heart.. with love.. with sincerity, to encourage and rebuild.

If you have hurt anyone in the past.. please..take the time to find them. Pray for God to lead you to them and make it right. It may have been 30 years ago..but it is never too late to say, "I am sorry." (Chances are..they will still be hurting.)

Amy, thank you so much for letting me use your name in this. I truly hope we can build a friendship on this..that will last forever.

To the guy at the bookstore... Nope... I was not always this way... But I am forgiven by God...for those mistakes in my past..

Apology Accepted.....

Jesus Christ paid that painful price.. for my sins.. so that He can look at me and say.... Forgiven!

Just as he can all of you out there......