Grace in Hard Conversations

What to Do When You Put Your Foot in Your Mouth

By Kimberly Cotton

I cannot believe that I am back here again. Why did I say that? I didn’t quite mean for it to come out that way.

These are just of the statements and questions that arise when I put my foot in my mouth. I was recently mortified when I was trying to have a hard conversation and it did not end well. I immediately began blaming myself. However, after seeking wise counsel, I realized that disagreements are a part of life, and God gives grace in unflattering moments.

Apologize

I could not take the moment back, and while it was not harmful to me, it was harmful to the other person. I had to realize that I needed to apologize to the person for hurting their feelings—while harm was not my intent, it happened—and I would encourage you to do the same. Our words are powerful and even if they are misconstrued, even if the person does not receive your apology, apologize anyway. You are still making things right with God and yourself.

It was hard for me to accept that I hurt someone’s feelings unintentionally, and I couldn’t just carry on with life. We know the conversations that do not sit well within our spirit, and we are aware of conversations that are just not edifying at all. Offer a sincere apology. Allow God and time to handle the rest.