By Leah McClellan

There’s an old song by The Sounds of Sunshine called “Love means (you never have to say you’re sorry).” You might know that line better from the 1970 movie Love Story, which was the inspiration for the song.

I don’t know the song very well, and I saw the movie on TV awhile back and barely remember what it was about. But that line stuck with me because, no matter how I look at it, it doesn’t make sense.

When you love someone, it doesn’t mean you won’t slip up and do something foolish (or worse) and need to apologize.

And no matter how much two people love each other, that doesn’t mean an apology isn’t ever needed. Quite the contrary. We’re all so imperfect and different from one another—no matter how similar or how well-matched... More...