## 51:17
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> A Broken And Contrite Heart
>> The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

Occasion: After hurting someone deeply

Lord, their face stays with me.
The look after my words landed.
The long pause.
The way the air changed.
I cannot unsay it.

Even now, I can feel myself reaching
for an explanation,
some reason my words were excusable,
some way to make the harm seem smaller.
But it was not small to them.
You know what it cost them to hear it.

Hold me still before that wound.
Don't let me hurry past it
because looking is hard.

Part of me wants quick repair.
Part of me wants them to ease my guilt.
Part of me wants to be comforted first.
And part of me is afraid
that my apology will not be enough,
that forgiveness may not come quickly,
that what I broke may take long to mend.

Break my selfishness down.
Give me courage to speak plainly,
without defending myself
or asking them to carry my shame.
Make room in me for patience,
for listening,
for the slow work of making right what I can.

Their face stays with me.
Let it keep me honest before You,
and tender toward the hurt
I cannot undo.

Amen.