We'll Make It Right

Still on our 9ja trip... 

we went to an eatery and ordered food to go.

It was supposed to be a pretty simple transaction.

The order was placed.

The package was handed over.

We left.

Everything seemed fine.

Until we got to our destination and opened the package.

Wrong food.

Not a small mistake either.

The kind that immediately tells you somebody somewhere wasn't paying attention.

The frustrating part?

We couldn't even eat what was in the package.

Which meant getting back into traffic.

Again.

If you've ever driven through Lagos traffic after you've already escaped and arrived at your destination, you understand the pain and emotional damage.

The drive back felt longer than the drive there.

By the time we arrived, "Mr. Frustration" was already folding his sleeves, ready to engage.

We asked to speak with whoever was in charge.

Something I genuinely dislike doing.

Not because mistakes don't matter.

I just don't enjoy escalating things.

Eventually, the manager came over.

He listened.

Looked into it.

Then said something surprisingly simple.

"I'm sorry. We'll make it right."

He didn't excuses.

He didn't shift blame.

He didnt argue.

There was no attempt to explain why it wasn't really their fault.

Just:

"We'll make it right."

And they sure did.

In fact, they went beyond replacing what was missing.

The issue was resolved so well that "Mr. Frustration" had to leave the room.

And on the drive back, I found myself thinking about marriage.

Because mistakes happen there too.

People forget.

People misunderstand.

People disappoint.

People drop the ball.

The issue is rarely whether mistakes will happen.

They will.

The real question is:

What happens after?

Some people become lawyers.

They explain.

Defend.

Justify.

Rationalize.

Minimize.

Anything except acknowledge what happened.

But healthy relationships understand something powerful.

Most people can survive a mistake.

What damages trust is the refusal to address it.

The Bible says in Proverbs 28:13,

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

There's something healing about ownership.

Not,

"Technically I wasn't wrong."

Not,

"You're overreacting."

Not,

"That's not what I meant."

Just:

"I'm sorry."

"I see where I messed up."

"We'll make it right."

That's maturity.

Because accountability isn't merely admitting something happened.

It's taking responsibility for restoring what was affected.

While some spouses are waiting for perfection. (They'll most likely be waiting forever.)

What marriages actually need is repair.

The willingness to say:

"I missed that."

"I hurt you."

"I should have handled that differently."

"What do I need to do to make this right?"

That question has saved more relationships than defensiveness ever has.

And honestly...

making things right often costs less than protecting your pride.

The restaurant could have argued.

Could have blamed the cashier.

Could have asked why we didn't check before leaving.

Instead they focused on restoration.

The same principles apply in marriage.

The goal is not proving who was right.

The goal is restoring what was damaged.

Because when people know you'll take responsibility and make things right...

trust grows.

And trust is worth protecting.

👣 Be Better. 💛 Love Better. 🙌🏾 Do Better. 💍Marriage Works.

© Lanre Olagbaju