The hundred-time apology
I think most of us have been there
It's the apology that is less an apology and mostly to make ourselves
feel better for the hurt we've caused
It's the one that after the third or foruth time noboy is really buying
My four year old taught me about the hundred-time apology
I was kneeling beside her bed
Empty words spilling from my mouth
In my mind knowing that there was no way the spanking I had given
her had hurt me more than her
Yet there I was promising that it would never happen again
And dropping my head on the bed beside her actualy wanting her
to feel sorry for me
There was movement on the bed and a small hand caressed my hair
And then she taught me what unconditional love was
I'll never forget her words
"It's okay Daddy, you'll forget and you'll hit me again."
It's okay Daddy
It really wasn't
And it never happened again
~ Duane Jackson
