The Power of Saying, "I'm Sorry"

Taken from: https://previews.123rf.com

It was in 2017 when this happened. 

*At 9 PM in the evening*

Me: Pa, pwede ba tayong mag-usap? (Dad, can we talk?)

Pa: Tungkol saan? (About what?)

Me: Gusto ko sabihing 'sorry' sa mga sinabi ko sayo noong sinigawan kita. (I wanted to say, 'I'm sorry' when I shouted at you.)

One week or two weeks after an activity in school, my father found out that a parent was furious at me for giving her son an average grade in a subject that I was teaching in class. Upon hearing it in the car, my father, during one morning, approached me and asked for the reason of the grade I gave. I answered him politely and then he started babbling and complaining about my shortcomings as a teacher and he told me that it was my fault for not talking to my student. This happened for a couple of minutes until I shouted back at him. I did not talk to my father for more than a week.

You could say that I was wrong. 

Yes, I won't deny it. 

You could say that my father did not understand where I was coming from. 

Yes, that is also true. 

You could also say that I should have not answered back and I should have left quietly.

Yes, I could have also done that. 

BUT!

I can also say that I did not understand my father. 

Sometimes, miscommunication happens when we do not know the other side of a story.

When I talked to him that night, I explained what happened to my class prior to the PCTC so he could understand my reason. Upon hearing it, he explained his side with a calm voice:

Pa: Kaya ko sinabi sa'yo yung mga sinabi ko noon kasi nag-aalala ako sa'yo. Paano kung makasalubong mo sa mall tapos nagkita kayo at di ka pinansin? Panget naman na may kaaway ka sa labas ng eskwelahan diba? 

(The reason why I told those things to you is because I'm worried about you. What if you meet each other inside the mall and she ignores you? Don't you think it will look bad if you're not in good terms with someone outside of the school?)

At that time, I then understood where he was coming from. My dad only cares for my well-being– and he has every right to do it.

There were two things I learned that night:

1. Parents express their love in different (and sometimes, in not so good) ways.

Not all parents are the same. Others are strict while others are lenient. Others don't talk while others love to talk. Others open up while others don't. Our parents are not perfect. They are simply doing their job to protect and love us. We just have to see it.

2. Saying "I'm Sorry" can save a relationship.

Children get hurt. Others deny it. Others accept it. But ultimately, when there is a fight between parents and their children, both parties will get hurt along the process. In times like this, humility plays a big part. 

The Bible teaches us that we are to obey our parents because it is our role (Ephesians 6:1). But the Bible also teaches us that we are to do this out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Ephesians 5:21 becomes the pre-requisite.

If we honor God and we know that God has given us our parents, then we can honor them by saying, "I'm sorry." 

Blessing follows obedience! Let God do the rest.