It Is More Than Saying I’m Sorry

One of my father's favorite idioms that he would say often was, "I'm sorry is a fool's paradise." Maybe you have been at an event when a parent told a child to say I'm sorry, which the child proceeds to do without any regrets or remorse. My book "It Is More Than Saying I'm Sorry" deals with this issue. Even today, I did a little exercise with the ladies in class to talk about repentance. When I asked one of the students to explain why they were sorry about an issue, they only spoke on what they had done wrong. Every action that we do, whether it is good or evil, affects the people around us. For true repentance to exist, the offender must understand the impact that their behavior had on the people around them. At no point can there be self-pity or bizarre penance.

My little story helps any age understand the betrayal that the victim might be feeling when trust becomes broken. There are many twists and turns in the book, but one of my favorite points that is very subtle is if you publicly humiliate someone, then you need to apologize publicly. Even some adults do not know how to properly take responsibility for their actions without justifying themselves in some form.

Rich's little prayer to God, asking Him to prepare Will for his apology, is an important step. Sometimes are misdeeds cut so deep that the person harmed might not be willing to forgive. Asking God to intervene is a big step in understanding the ramifications of our behavior. I wrote these books to help adults and children understand complex and very thorny topics. Many adults have told me they wish they could give it to another adult. Why not? Sometimes a made-up story helps us see ourselves without the hostile confrontation.

If you do get the book, look hard at the pictures. One of my characters is speaking in sign language.

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L. Kathleen Cline

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