I don’t know if it’s being cooped up together for so long or just typical sibling behavior, but my oldest daughter and my older son have been going at it lately.

The other day was particularly ugly. He inadvertently messed up her sled run, and so she yelled at him. He yelled right back at her. Then she ran into him on the run, and he retaliated by stomping up and down the smooth path. It was a nasty scene played out in front of the whole neighborhood.

Later, back in the house, I talked to my son about what he had done. He was defensive and unrepentant and still ready to rumble. When my daughter came in, I spoke with her as well. She had had time to cool off and was more reasonable. She soon approached my son, who was still fuming, and said simply “Adam, I’m sorry.”

That immediately diffused his anger. I could see it on his face. There was nothing he could do but accept her apology. It was an amazing site to behold.

Those simple words, if said from the heart, can hold so much power.