Second Chances

Second Chances
August 11th, 2008
Have you ever failed in a relationship that you really wanted, or that you really did not mean to mess up? I don’t just mean your love life here, though it can be that kind of relationship. I am speaking of any relationship- spouses, parents, children, friends, co-workers, etc. I know I have. I have blown several relationships in my life that I really, truly thought I was acting in the best way possible. My heart was right. I was doing the best I knew to do, yet the end result was terrible. I hurt people I loved. I said things I didn’t mean, or maybe I did mean them but not like they came across.

So what do you do? First talk to God about it. Ask him to show you where you went wrong. Ask him to give you insight into what went wrong, and then listen to what he tells you. it can be hard to “hear’ but listen, you need to know. Then what? Say your sorry. Say it and mean it. Don’t try to defend your mistake, just say you are sorry.

Does it work? Most of the time it does. Most of the time the people you love really do love you back. We can be different in how we show that love, but it is there just the same. Most of the time you will find more forgiveness than you expected. Some times it does not work though. Sometimes the wounds are deep and have been allowed to fester. Those take time. The old saying that time heals all wounds is true in a way. In time God can heal those wounds and often he will open a closed door for you to try again. Keep praying and believing in the power of love. God tells us to be long suffering, and to believe all things. I have found that to be perfect advice- go figure?

In the mean time don’t sit and pout. Don’t keep flogging yourself over your mistakes. if you have talked it over with God, and set it straight with him, and asked for forgiveness from the person you hurt, move on. Even if there is no forgiveness from them. Move on. Punishing yourself serves no purpose. It changes nothing and makes you useless. We live in a hurting world. You do not have time to sit and be useless. God has other things for you to be doing. Ask him, and he will be able to use your open heart to help others. Maybe you can not fix the things of the past, but you can build a better future. Your life can be a ray of hope to another in this life. Allow yourself to live again. Allow God to live through you. Forgive yourself and reach out. Touch a life. Make a difference. Hugs, Barbara