How to Get Your Sister to Forgive You

Your sister may never forgive you for what you did, but there are steps you can take to amend the harm you caused her.

Maybe you ruined your sister's wedding with intoxicated antics. Or worse yet, perhaps you made a pass at her husband or acted inappropriately toward someone close to her. Even if you just feel that your sister may have negatively perceived something you said or did, there are several ways to attempt an apology. From directly addressing her to writing her a letter, you can choose any level of contact to make your amends.

Instructions

1. Walk the extra mile to do nice things for her. Especially if you've wronged your sister before, saying "I'm sorry" may not be enough. If your sister needs to grocery shop, offer to help her or do the shopping yourself.

2. Tell your sister the part you played; owning up to what you've done can go a long way toward gaining forgiveness. Offer to fix precisely what you've done wrong. If you wrecked her car, pay for the repairs.

   Show sincerity and apologize directly to her. Clearly tell her what you did wrong and that you are sorry for it.

3. Reassure your sister that you will never cause such harm to her again. Even if a situation was beyond your control, making excuses will not address the hurt or betrayal.

4. Write a letter to your sister if you still find it too painful to apologize face-to-face. A letter doesn't put pressure on your sister to respond or react in the moment. It allows her time for reflection.

5. Accept the outcome of your attempt at an apology. Recognize that your sister may not be able to forgive you, either immediately or at any point. It is not your place to teach her how to forgive. Simply continue to love her.

References

• Support 4 Change; Asking for Forgiveness; Joyce and Barry Vissell
• Keen; Lady Hope; How Do You Deal With Someone Who Will Not Forgive You?
• Article Snatch; How to Ask for Forgiveness; Michael Lee