How Brave Are You?

Bravery or courage is an awesome thing.

We admire people who can do things others are afraid to even dare. Sometimes we even gasp aloud to show our appreciation.

What courageous things are these? 

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Could it be standing up to a group of bullies in school? 

Could it crossing a hanging bridge without an adult holding your hand?

Could it be sleeping alone in the dark?

Could it be swimming in the deep end of the pool without a salvavida?

Oh, yes, courage is all that. Plus more.

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It is also anyone going to someone he/she has hurt, admitting his/her fault, and saying, “I am sorry.”

Saying these three little words require courage. It seems like a difficult thing to do, even among adults. They are just three little words anybody (even a toddler who is just learning to talk) can say, but why does it take so much effort to say them?

I asked a few of my friends’ opinion on the matter and here are some of the answers I got.

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They are afraid that if they say “I am sorry” to someone they: 

1. might appear weak.

2. might be rejected and create an enemy for life. 

3. might cause him/her to become emotional and make a scene.

4. might lose his/her respect and make matters even worse.

5. might feel great shame and embarrassment.

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Might, might, might!  All of these “mights” are fears that are real. When we apologize, we don’t really know how the person is going to react or what would happen next, so we are deathly afraid. 

But we all know that NOT saying “I am sorry” can cause even worse results.

Try to reverse the role for a minute and think of yourself as the person hurt by someone. You feel sad that your friendship or relationship has been strained. But you refuse to make the first move to talk to that person because is at fault, or because you are also afraid that he might hurt you again. 

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So now it’s a no-win situation. Neither the person who had been hurt nor the person who caused his pain would not want to make the first move to restore what was once a beautiful friendship or relationship.

We all have a story like this, and we have suffered the consequences. Failing to say “I am sorry” for hurting someone harms more that the injury itself.

For example, if your mom raised her voice at you and blamed you for something your sister did, you get hurt. But when these two things happen, courage is at work: 

-your mom comes back to you saying, “I am sorry for yelling at you, son.”

- you approach your mom when her head is cooler and explain in a soft, nice voice that you are innocent.

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Like you, I always try to be brave and hope to say, “I am sorry” when I am wrong.  But it is not always easy. So we just have to keep trying, shall we?  Please email me at gdchong@gmail.com or visit my website—www.leavesofgrace.blogspot.com