Exactly how important is it to accept an apology when someone has reacted prematurely, overstepped or straight up crossed a boundary they shouldn’t have? Very important!
For me, accepting the apology looks different than straight up forgiveness. Here’s why! When you show/allow forgiveness, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to immediately enter back into a relationship or friendship with the person who hurt you. It means that you are being the bigger person and you are not going to allow ‘said situation’ to continue to eat at you anymore. It means you are free of any grudges of wrong doing, and you are moving forward with your life.
An apology, however, means that the person saying those words meant no harm toward you and a mistake was made. These are words they don’t have to say, but choose to say! Instead of acting like nothing happened, they are recognizing the pain they caused! Instead of giving a reason for why they said or did (insert words/actions), they are saying, “I messed up”!
I think we sometimes hold off on accepting an apology because we want to prove a point. But in the end, that prolongs the hurt and causes bigger gaps to form, which is a no win situation on either side.
So do I think accepting an apology is important?! Why yes, YES I do! And just remember, some people aren’t big enough to say those words, so if they’re offered up, be swift to to take what is offered and move on!
Enjoy Every Moment 