There have been many times that I have failed my kids in some way and had to apologize to them. Some of the instances have been small issues, some have been larger, more critical failures on my part. I’m grateful that my children have always been quick to offer me their forgiveness and grace.
I recent’y blew it again as a father. This time it was a careless word spoken while with my sons at our fantasy football draft party. For those of you that might be hoping for some major foul language, I’m sorry to disappoint. The word that I carelessly spoke was “idiot.” Now there may be some of you that would scoff and think that I’m being overly dramatic. But that isn’t a word that we want to be a part of our vocabulary and we certainly don’t want to teach our kids to use it.
Ephesians 4:29 ”Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
The issue really isn’t even about the word as much as it is the fact that I modeled something that I did not want my boys to emulate.
I once again had to apologize and ask for my 2 oldest sons to forgive me. And once again they were quick to forgive. My prayer is that God makes up for my many shortfalls as a father so that my children can be all that He intends them to be.
Have you ever had to apologize?