year in the life of Dez...day 7

I'm sorry really means...


There are times my dog really drives me crazy. We bought her a shock collar that apparently doesn't work because she is constantly barking. I know it drive my neighbors batty so I am up and down all day sticking my head out the door telling her to HUSH. I can't help that the big bad chipmunk might get close to the house... or the deer... skunks... or from wrapping herself around a tree 15 times. Sometimes I think Willow is missing some matter up in the cranium.

So as Willows "mother" I am usually the one who has to get her out of her predicaments, I have to correct her and explain away her faults. Willow can't say she is sorry...she can't talk. I know she tries...sometimes. Willow is the prime example of what I think God must feel sometimes after we constantly make mistakes.

When you do something that requires an "I'm Sorry" what you are really saying is "I won't do it again". So many times you see people apologize just to turn right around and do the exact same thing over and over. That is NOT how "I'm Sorry" works.

Same goes for repentance. When you pray for the Lord's forgiveness it doesn't mean you run out and do it again and again because you know that God will forgive you. That isn't how repentance works...and if you are truly sorry...would you really WANT to do the same thing over and over? I think some people pray for forgiveness to clear their guilty feeling, but never actually change the way they function. That is just speculation on my part...and I don't know for sure if God doesn't just clear it off every time you pray.

All I know is if someone apologizes to me and asks for my forgiveness I will certainly give it. Yet, how would you feel if that same person ran out and committed their fault again... then asked for forgiveness for it again...and again...and again. I really don't think I would be inclined to forgive over and over and over. Part of me would feel jilted I think and would lose trust in the person. Maybe that is my human fault.

How do you feel when people hurt you and apologize? What if they did the same thing over and over and continued to ask?

Acts 26:18- "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me."