I have been trying to use the “Words of Mother's Love” at church. Yet it never occurred to me that I should be using them with my own family as well.
Perhaps because I've been more sensitive than usual lately, I found myself becoming easily irritated with my mother. Even when she spoke with the best of intentions, her words sounded like criticism or disagreement. A simple apology could have resolved things right away, but because I couldn't bring myself to say those few words, small misunderstandings sometimes grew into hurt feelings and conflict. Then one day, a thought suddenly crossed my mind: my family should be included among the people with whom I practice saying, “I'm sorry.”
A few days later, my mother and I got into an argument over my grades.
“I'm sorry.”
At last, the words that had only ever lingered in my mind reached my family. Hearing them, my mother apologized as well, and what could have become a bigger argument quickly came to an end. As I put the “Words of Mother's Love” into practice, peace returned to our home. From now on, I want to preserve the peace of both my spiritual and physical family through the words, “I'm sorry. I love you.”