Apology and Forgiveness Renewing Love

As I was contemplating a conflict occurring between members of my own family, I stumbled across this meditation in my Jewish prayerbook:

Avinu Malkenu, bless my family with peace. Teach us to appreciate the treasures of our lives. Help us to find contentment in one another. Save us from dissension and jealousy; shield us from pettiness and rivalry. May selfish pride not divide us; may pride in one another unite us. Help us to renew our love for one another continually.

This meditation recognizes that we all have inner faults and the ability to make mistakes: jealousy, pettiness, rivalry, and selfishness. This is certainly not an exhaustive list.

It also recognizes that we control our own decisions, our own actions, and our own lives. The meditation places a high value on appreciating each other, finding contentment with one another, and being proud of each other. Interestingly, it recognizes that our love for each other wavers, and it needs to be renewed continually.

This meditation led me to think about the power of apology and forgiveness. When we recognize that we have faults, we are recognizing that we have reasons to apologize. When we recognize that we should appreciate each other (as treasures) and find contentment in one another despite our faults, we are recognizing that we have the power to forgive.

I hope that you find it within yourself to apologize fervently; and I hope you find it within yourself to forgive. Within those discoveries, your love shall be renewed.