Posted on 06/29/2009 7:41:15 PM PDT by nakutny
Dear Friends, I write to apologize and ask for your forgiveness.
Well beyond the personal consequences within my own family, I know that at so many different levels my actions have upset, offended and disappointed friends and supporters and for this I am most sorry. As I mentioned in last week's press conference, I've always believed God's laws were there to protect us from ourselves, and what has transpired over this last week vividly illustrates the damage that comes personally, and to those you love and respect, in doing otherwise.
So in the aftermath of this failure I want to not only apologize, but to commit to growing personally and spiritually. Immediately after all this unfolded last week I had thought I would resign - as I believe in the military model of leadership and when trust of any form is broken one lays down the sword. A long list of close friends have suggested otherwise - that for God to really work in my life I shouldn't be getting off so lightly. While it would be personally easier to exit stage left, their point has been that my larger sin was the sin of pride. They contended that in many instances I may well have held the right position on limited government, spending or taxes - but that if my spirit wasn't right in the presentation of those ideas to people in the General Assembly, or elsewhere, I could elicit the response that I had at many times indeed gotten from other state leaders.
Their belief was that if I walked in with a real spirit of humility then this last legislative term could well be our most productive one - and that outside this term, I would ultimately be a better person and of more service in whatever doors God opened next in life if I stuck around to learn lessons rather than running and hiding down at the farm.
They have also made the point that a good part of life is about scripts - that the idea of redemption isn't something that Marshall, Landon, Bolton and Blake should just read about, it's something they should see. Accordingly, they suggested that there was a very different life script that would be lived and learned by our boys, and thousands like them, if this story simply ended with scandal and then the end of office - versus a fall from grace and then renewal and rebuilding and growth in its aftermath.
I won't belabor all these points, but I did want to write as expressed earlier to say that I'm sorry and that more than anything I personally ask for your prayers for me, Jenny, the boys and so many others who have been impacted by what I have done.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Take care.
Mark
This guy needs to stop his apology tour. It is getting tiresome. The first apology was more than enough. When he had the media tape his apology with his staff...I thought that was ridiculous. And now a letter...get over it Mark. You are making this worse by reminding everyone of this.
Macaca!
This is more than an apology.
He is writing to his constituents.
His advisers are wise to point out the hope all men have for redemption.
It would do more to shut up the libs if he were to show the world that a man can change by the grace of God.
That is a miracle that only God can do, but only if Mark is willing to flesh it out, and if in public, all the more will see.
He is the one who will pay for it, not you. Use a little reflection.
This Narcissistic Twit needs to resign.
Sanford leaves his job and state for several days to another country at tax payers expense.
He screws around with his girl friend and thinks his wife and 4 sons should except it.
Sanford is delusional and thank godness he will never get any further than gov. of S.C.
It doesn’t say much for those who support him. He is a laughing stock.
If not, why not?
Blah blah blah.
The train left the station, pal.
That was your conscience talking. True to form, you disregarded it.
As humans we all fall,fortunately many of us can pick ourselves up and continue on the journey out of the public eye because we were never it. For that most of us should be grateful.
Others just remain fallen,maybe because they haven't a clue on how to get back up and continue and yet others,who may have been known to the public go off and lick their wounds in private and are not heard from again.
To go on is quite courageous since he knows he will be subject to much criticism which he does deserve;however, he is swallowing his pride and picking himself up and continuing on,carrying his cross,fulfilling his duties and obligations and that is what we all must do as we journey back to the Father who made us in His image and wants us to find our way home. I will pray that Mark Sanford can do it,for himself,his family and for his constituents and all who care.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.