Step 9 - Making Amends - The Pathway To Peace And Reconciliation

Each day is a new opportunity to respond to God’s call to live in humility, desire reconciliation in relationships, walk in forgiveness and focus on cleaning our side of the street. 

Honesty, balance, and realism are essential tools to keep at hand when we seek the way of peace in all our relationships.  At some point we will all need to make amends to someone and we need to do so with grace and kindness.  This is the invitation of Step 9.

We made direct amends to such people, wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

When we make amends under the guidance of our loving God, everyone is blessed.  Confessing our wrongs to someone we have harmed means they no longer need to carry around the painful baggage from the event.  The resentment each of us held towards the another will begin to ease and both parties will experience more freedom in the future.

When we have a problem with others we should not lean towards self-righteous justification.  In those moments we should remember the Golden Rule, 

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:31

God wants to teach us about ourselves as we bring our past, present, and future to Him with a humble desire to learn.  The list of people we have harmed is an example of how we have failed when we have done things our own way.  Humility says we have much to learn.  Becoming willing to make amends is an expression of our deep desire to do all that is in our power to make peace and open a path for healing and reconciliation.

We take responsibility for our part in the harm that was caused.  This attitude of respect for the dignity of another and sincere sorrow for any actions that caused harm is what we need to demonstrate in both our words and our manner as we make amends and seek forgiveness.

Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. Luke 1:78-79 

Loving God, today we put our trust in You once again and ask You to guide us on this pathway to peace as we make amends to those we have harmed. 

We have much to learn, especially when it comes to being considerate towards those we’ve harmed.  Our desire today, in all we do and say is that any actions we take would have the effect of healing and restoration.  Amen

The challenge for us today is to reach out and make amends wherever relationships have broken down.  Next time we will look at those few occasions where a bit of further time or wisdom may be needed.