Making a Wrong Right

There was a lady on yard duty when I was in 3rd grade that I thought was ugly. In fact, I thought she looked like the "Sea Hag" from Popeye the Sailor cartoons. I had the bright idea that I should tell her that I thought she not only looked like the cartoon sea hag but she was indeed THE sea hag.

Somehow word got back to my family the content of my words. My father saw my disrespect of her for what it was and after receiving my punishment it was now my opportunity to apologize to the woman, eyeball to eyeball. He wanted me to see that my careless words had the ability to hurt someone. He also had had me stand up in front of a Kindergarten class and tell them why I was having lunch with them in the kiddie yard instead of the 3rd grade class yard.  I felt at the time that this experience was absolutely humiliating. In my own little self-centered mind, I wondered what I had done to deserve such humiliation? I found the comfort of self-pity all too comfortable.

I went to the lady the following day and apologized and then stood up in front of the Kindergarten class and told them what I had done and how sorry I was and that was why I was having lunch with them.

What was the Character Matter?

What is at stake when making an admission of wrong to the one that has been wronged? What is the lesson that can be learned? The ability to look someone or a group of people in the eye and tell them what I did was wrong and set that wrong right takes courage and a humility.

How does your Chracter Matter?

Can you make an eyeball to eyeball apology and ask for someone's forgiveness?

It is a reality that I am not going to be able to live life in the workaday world without hurting others or being hurt by others.

So when the time comes to ask or receive forgiveness will I be able to give forgiveness and receive it too?

And when my son is disrespectful to the music teacher at school and is removed from class, how do I suggest he straighten it out with the teacher? Do I have him right Mr. Music Teacher a letter apologizing and take the character building step to go to the teacher and eyeball to eyeball ask him for his forgiveness?