Encouragement

---

I'll be the first to admit that there are some things that are just so hard to forgive. Or forget. But I have to find a way to forgive, and eventually forget, because God has told me that I must. Even if it is a simple matter of forgiving MYSELF for something.

Friday night, as I was relaxing, I turned the TV onto the Miss USA pageant. I loved watching them as a young girl, but this was the first one I have watched for a very long time.

They got to the five finalists and began the all important question phase. This thirty seconds or so is supposed to be for us, the viewer, to get to know our contestants. I'm telling you, these pageants just aren't what they used to be.

Contestant number three approached the hosts to receive her question. Which was, "Do you think people should be given second chances?" Now, my answer, especially as a person who is continuously getting second chances, and as a person who is being forgiven for various things throughout the course of any given day, automatically said, "Yes, of course they should."

But contestant number three shocked me, and apparently those in attendance, with her unexpected answer. "No, I don't believe some people should be given another chance."

Well. I was stunned. They showed the faces of some of the judges and they looked just as stunned as I felt.

I'm so glad I was given a second chance. A chance to change the course of my life. A gift from a loving father that no one can ever take away from me. He offered me forgiveness-He continues to offer me forgiveness, no matter what misstep I take, if I will but turn around, tell Him about it, and not wallow in my sin. I will always sin---the difference is that now I know when I do it. The difference now is what I do when it happens. The difference is WHO I run to when I've erred.

We have a God who gives us a second chance. And a third. And even a fourth if we need it. His mercy is unlimited. His forgiveness is forever.

Thank God for His gift of second chances and renewal. Don't be so hard-hearted that you find yourself unable to forgive others and show mercy to them. If God can do that for YOU, then YOU should not refuse another, knowing from whence you came.

Blessings.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE