Second Chances (Today’s Morning Inspiration)
We all need them. Because no one does everything in life absolutely perfect on the first go around. But they are more valuable than we know.
For second chances are rooted in forgiveness. Forgiveness, which comes from compassion. Compassion, which is one of the most honorable of emotions. After all, I believe that I am forgiven every day by the Lord for my mistakes, and without that forgiveness, I truly would be lost. It is one of the greatest gifts that I receive, and it affords me a second chance each and every day.
That being said, sometimes it’s hard to forgive, isn’t it? I sure wish we could be more like the Lord, endlessly generous, but since we often are not:
We are lucky to be forgiven, lucky to have another shot, and lucky when we learn to forgive ourselves.
I can offer an explanation for each to help illustrate my thoughts.
We are lucky to be forgiven when we let down or hurt someone we love, someone we look up to, or even a stranger. Their forgiveness offers us a second chance to regain their trust.
We are lucky to have another shot, when we fail once, but are afforded another opportunity…a second chance. Imagine being given only shot, with no back up. We’d probably be in serious trouble 99% of the time! That being said, we only do get one shot at this life, which is why it’s essential that we live it to its fullest!
And finally, we are lucky when we learn to forgive ourselves. Often, we tend to be our own harshest critics, as the saying goes. So when we begin to allow ourselves to make mistakes, and use them as the most profound of learning experiences, we can truly grow.
However, none of this is possible without second chances. Just remember, not only do you receive second chances…but you can also give them, and all it takes is a moment of forgiveness and compassion to maybe even change someone’s entire life in the process.