“Little said will soon be amended” (Miguel de Cervantes).
The only way to avoid making improvements is to do nothing. If we are actively involved in life, trying our best to do as we should, we will make some mistakes, and when we do, we will have to improve. In a way, the less we say and do, the less we have to apologize. As Cervantes said, “A little said is soon amended,” and there is certainly some wisdom in this. But on the other hand, life is much more than negative things about mistakes to avoid; In the larger sense, it is about positive use of our abilities so that we can achieve as good results as possible. We can’t give up or stop trying. Improving is one of the necessities of life.
In its most basic sense, to make amends is to “fix” a situation that is “broken” because of a mistake we made. And, of course, to “improve” something is to “repair” it. Thus American Heritage Dictionary “Reparations” are defined as “compensation or payment made in satisfaction of insult or injury.” So when we make amends, we “repair” the damage we have caused, and “compensate” for our wrong actions.
To make amends respectfully, we must do more than just apologize, although that is the obvious starting point. Even at the level of forgiveness, we must do more than just express regret when someone has hurt us. We must accept (a) unrighteousness (b) commit ourselves to what we have done Change (that is, promise that we will not do the same thing again, even under similar circumstances), and then make (c) restoration For the damage caused, whatever extent it may be. Obviously, many mistakes cause harm that cannot be fully compensated for, but we should never fail to try. If we have moved out of the blame mode and into the amends mode, the question we will always ask is, “What can I do to make it up to you?”
Improving is one of the hardest things in life, but it’s also one of the most important. If we cannot do it eagerly, at least we can do it willingly. And equally important, revising is something we should do regularly. Timely revision is a part of the maintenance that keeps our relationships going. If we value these relationships, we will leave no stone unturned in repairing them when they break.
“Keep your friendships in order” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
