Sunday, September 28, 2025

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends

The proverb "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends" speaks to the power of forgiveness and discretion in maintaining relationships. It suggests that choosing to overlook or forgive the mistakes of others promotes harmony and love. On the other hand, constantly bringing up past wrongs, even after they have been resolved, can cause division and damage friendships. This proverb teaches us the importance of handling conflict with care, understanding, and wisdom.

Take the example of Salifou. One day, her close friend accidentally insulted her during a conversation. The words hurt, but instead of holding a grudge, Salifou decided to forgive her friend quietly and move on. She didn't bring up the incident repeatedly or speak negatively about it to others. Instead, she chose to "cover the offense" out of love for her friend. This allowed the friendship to remain strong and flourish. If, instead, Salifou had constantly reminded her friend of the hurtful words or shared the story with others, the relationship would have deteriorated over time. By seeking love through forgiveness, she maintained a bond of trust and understanding.

To implement this proverb in our lives, we must be conscious of how we handle offenses. Covering an offense doesn’t mean ignoring harm done to us, but rather, addressing it constructively and choosing not to dwell on it. Holding on to past grievances or speaking about them repeatedly stirs up unnecessary strife. Instead, we should aim to move past the hurt and seek peace in our relationships.

The lesson we can learn from this proverb is the value of forgiveness and the consequences of being too focused on past wrongs. Relationships thrive when we prioritize love, kindness, and forgiveness over the desire to point out mistakes or rehash conflicts. This wisdom can help us build stronger, more resilient connections with others.

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