A Heartfelt Apology

(This seems like a long story but keep reading...I love the ending.)

Sunday afternoon, the neighborhood girls and Maddie and Ally were playing outside while I planted flowers in the front. They had been out there a while and had started arguing and bickering back and forth like little girls do sometimes. I finally had to sit them all down and give them my "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" lecture. As the arguing continued, I finally had to send the girls home to give each other a break....before they dispersed, one of the little girl's dog got out of the yard and start to make a break for freedom. As it ran down the street with all the little girls screaming behind him, "Come back!", I yelled (while on the phone, sorry, Amy!)for them to stop because who knows how far they would have run after this dog. Well, they all came back except one, Ilaina.

I get off the phone and tell the one little girl to go and tell her Mom and Dad that their dog is on the run. We think that Ilaina should be back once she realizes that the others are not with her any more. Maddie runs to tell Ilaina's mom that "she is lost" and she and I and Maddie set off to find Ilaina. It hasn't been long so we know that they can't be far but where are they?? Our house isn't far from the big cross over street and as we head that way looking up and down the crossing street, she is still no where to be found. At this point, Maddie has tears in her eyes and she is starting to cry. She is afraid that Ilaina is not coming back and I felt so bad for her. It had only been about 10 minutes but I am sure that is felt like an eternity to Maddie. Ilaina's mom and I separate, I go left and she goes right and Ilaina's Mom finds her down the street between some houses. As Maddie sees her she starts to cry harder....she was just so scared for her friend. We all breath a sigh of relief as Maddie and Ilaina hug.

Once we are back inside the house. I pick Maddie up and squeeze her with all of my might and reassure her that Ilaina is alright but this why we don't run off. I put her down and we head into the kitchen. Maddie grabs a pen and note pad and asks me to sit by her at the table for a little bit. I do and she then asks me how to spell "I am sorry for being mean, Ilaina" I tell her and she runs to put the note into Ilaina's mail box.

I can now see some of what was going through Maddie's head as we searched for Ilaina. She was thinking back to something "mean" she had said to Ilaina before she was "lost" and thought that she may never see her again. What a precious heartfelt apology and how incredible of Maddie to realize the need for it to be said.

How many times have you and I let our anger, pride or grudges get in the way of a heartfelt apology? Many times, I would think....I LOVE learning things from my children. They amaze me with their insights and innocent yet profound actions. I know that this is something that I will take with me from day to day. Never let the moment pass when a heartfelt "I'm sorry" is needed....