The following is written by a very special guest writer, my husband Chris Kelly.  He is extremely excited about something he created - for women, from men....here is what he has to say about 'my forgiveness card.'

I think I know enough to ask for help when I need to. Whatever ego I have is put in check as I consider the plight we face during these challenging economic times.

I know I’ll need to depend on my wife for her continued support more than ever.

Men, if you haven’t done so by now, take a deep breath, find your wife, mother, grandmother or sister and say - I am sorry. We’re going to need them like never before so making peace is a great place to start. Although this is not why I created what I’m about to share with you, I’ll admit, realizing how much we’ll need them right away is a great motivator.

About five years ago I began to ponder, I mean ponder over and over, what it must be like to be a black woman. Don’t get me wrong I like my gender and appreciate my manhood, but there’s an awesomeness to the black woman I find intriguing.

When I consider the state of affairs for black men in America, how awesome black women are becomes even more impressive. Black men are disproportionally incarcerated; we are now less educated than our female counterparts; we suffer the emotional baggage from systemic racism; with few exceptions we have insufficient role models from whom to learn the craft of fatherhood; we are under-employed and we die younger.

With fewer men heading families, black women have had to pick up the slack and they’ve done so without batting an eyelash. They’ve done more parenting than they should and often, while managing the emotional fallout of being left or hurt by us.

After a conversation with two beautiful, well educated thirty-something twin sisters named Nikki and Nyree about five years ago about these statistics and the ‘state of affairs’ between black men and women, I was inspired to create something to demonstrate to all the women in my life how much I love and appreciate the part they play in my being the man I am. And further, to honor and offer the same gratitude to all the women who’ve gone before them.

To my mother Desiree Esther Jackson-Kelly, my wife Julette Millien-Kelly and my dear departed mother-in-law, Maria Hernandez-Logan I thank you and honor you for all your sacrifice and for working so diligently to be Good people.

• How do I thank all the beautiful world-historic women past and present, to whom all men owe a debt of gratitude?
• How do I thank all women for putting up with and standing by the sides of their boys until they turn to men?
• How do we thank our women for continuing to tolerate our relationships while we cheat and steal from them?
• How do we thank them for mining the kids while we’re incarcerated?
• How do we say thanks for carrying the financial load when we got laid off?

I really thought about this and I don’t think we can thank them adequately. It’s just been so much! They’ve given undying support, love, understanding and patience as they’ve taken so much from us in our absence and even in our presence.

What I believe we can do however is ask for Forgiveness. I would like to offer an historical apology to all women, especially those who have passed on without ever hearing these words. I AM SORRY. On behalf all men like me, I am sorry.

I am sorry for:

• Not protecting you
• Not listening to you
• Not saying thank you
• Not appreciating you
• Not hearing you
• Not affirming you
• Not forgiving you
• Leaving you with our kids
• Stealing from you
• Frightening you
• Worrying you
• Cheating on you
• Fighting you
• Disrespecting you

Out of the awareness of God’s Purpose and more significantly His Promise for my life, I created a product called My Forgiveness Card^tm http://www.MyForgivenessCard.com.

My Forgiveness Card is my attempt at starting a Forgiveness Movement among Real Men, with the hope of recapturing the Love and respect of our women.

At the same time we will be offering them a chance to heal from the years of undeserved physical and emotional abuse, derogation, disrespect, objectification and mistreatment that they suffered at my hands and at the hands of men like me.

Yes, I am sorry.

I don’t expect black women to forgive us immediately upon hearing the apologies that they will receive with My Forgiveness Card. Some might. For others it might engender some further healing or feeling of past pain. If it’s given with love, it will all work together for good.

It’s my hope that black men will be patient and give our women the time and love they need to heal. Forgiveness starts that miraculous process of healing.

By forgiving we heal - it’s that simple. Please forgive me and let’s be FREE.

I would love to hear your feedback.   Click the “Comment” link below to respond to this post.

You can find me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/agapeonline

Give yourself or someone the gift of Forgiveness.
My Forgiveness Card^tm http://www.MyForgivenessCard.com