March 5, 2008

I remember when my son was about six years old. He accidentally knocked a glass off the table. It fell broken on the floor. I looked at him, and he said, “It did it by itself.” I smiled and said, “Let’s say that a different way: ‘I accidentally knocked the glass off the table.’” He smiled and said, “I accidentally knocked the glass off the table.” He had learned an important lesson: accept responsibility for your behavior.

I know adults who have not learned that lesson. They are still saying, “It did it by itself.”
Here’s an exercise for you: Stand in front of the mirror and say, “I was wrong. I was wrong. I was wrong.” Say it until it feels comfortable. Then, use it when you know that your behavior was inappropriate.

Today's A Growing Marriage Daily content has been written by Dr. Gary Chapman and is based on the book The Five Languages of Apology by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Jennifer Thomas. Published by Northfield Publishers, copyright 2006. Used by permission.