We all have inner voices, voices from our childhood, or younger years, that speak to us still. They sometimes speak louder than the voices of our adult years, as though imprinted permanently onto our brains.
In the mid 1970s, when I was just a child, I remember the voice of Elton John singing,
“… sorry seems to be the hardest word”.
Those words imprinted themselves within me. I grew up determined to say that hardest word. I am not always wise enough or strong enough to do this, but it is goal, reminded to me by that memory from childhood).
I also struggle to understand why it is so hard for some to say. I struggle to understand why we would allow ourselves to be so weak as to not speak that word that gives strength, both to the one speaking it, and the one hearing it.
Like this song message, I also have another, associated, memory that goes with this message. So many times I remember, as a child, having wronged one of my younger brothers, and my parents instructing forcing me to apologize, to say sorry. Many times my apology was just an act of going through the motions, with little to no apology coming from my heart. Though it is easy to look at that method of discipline as being meaningless, because of my frequent insincerity, I do think something longer-term was accomplished. Even today, when I do something that I know is wrong or hurtful, I hear my mom’s voice telling me that I need to say apologize.
Ever notice how rare it is for nations, for leaders in many fields, to make apologies to individuals, or groups of people, wronged in the past? Part of that not happening is often due to the legal and financial ramifications of saying sorry … for saying we are sorry says that we are responsible, and being responsible for doing someone wrong might mean that we owe compensation.
Imagine the mistakes and hurts in our world that might be moved toward resolution, reconciliation if people, leaders, would say that hardest of words?
“Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word”
Elton John
That sorry seems to be the hardest word”
Elton John
itsawonderfilledlife 
Carole – thank you for bringing the topic of “sorry” to the fore – I am one of ‘those’ people who apologizes for everything and I do mean it sincerely from my heart’s centre – I never really fully understood why I assume responsibility for matters that I don’t even need to own – I have essentially chalked it up to feelings of insecurity – having been raised in a home where I never did feel secure – one thing I am sure of is the security that I feel when Jesus envelopes me with His love – something that I will never need to be sorry for – I will continue to try to turn a deaf ear to that inner childhood voice that seemingly leads me to that place of being/feeling sorry for everyone and everything – thank you again for this thought-provoking post! Blessings from me to you!
Thanks for sharing Debra!