Blending A Family DevotionalSample

Apologies Bring Healing

A Christian school asked us to come speak to the high school class about single-parent and blended families. Over 50% of the high school’s 130 students were living in a single parent or blended family home. As they started talking about their family dynamics their demeanors changed.

We then apologized to these young people for the lives they are living because of the decisions of the adults in their lives. We apologized for the many negative emotions they experience, for the brokenness in their hearts, for packing bags and traveling to visit their other bio-parent, and for any broken dreams. 75% of the room began to weep, including the teachers standing along the back wall.

We told them life is not fair, and we tried to help them find forgiveness in their hearts for those they had unforgiveness toward. Many of the youth came to thank us for speaking into their lives. Why? Because for many of them, our apology was the only one they had ever heard. We had nothing to do with their broken lives, yet our apology meant so much to them.

In our early marriage there was an excessive amount of tension in our new home. One Saturday afternoon Paige and I sat our family on the floor in a circle and we apologized to each child. We told them we were sorry our bio families broke down, that it was not what we planned, and it was not the life we hoped for them. We told each child that we wanted to be a family. We also apologized to them for any times we spoke harshly to them, or did not show them respect. We asked them if they wanted to say anything, and they just hugged us and cried. That day was a significant turning point in our family.

Suggestions:

Take the time to apologize to the children in your home, even if you were not the one who initiated the broken home.

Apologize to anyone who you may have mistreated or spoken harshly to.

Apologize to your spouse, and if appropriate apologize to your former spouse.

Our Prayer for you:

Father thank You for helping this family to be sensitive to each heart, and express a sincere apology to its family members. Lead and guide them Holy Spirit!

Copyright 2019 Moe and Paige Becnel @ Blending A Family Ministry