I'm a firm believer in second chances. 1 know over the years that I have had a few myself. We all make mistakes in life, the question is, do we learn from them? Now, before you go off on me, I not talking about giving murderers and rapists and child molesters a second chance. What I mean is there are consequences for everything we do, some are good, but most are bad. If we violate a law, there are consequences that have to be handed down. However, I do believe a person can turn their life around and overcome their previous lifestyle. And if, they are truly sincere about it, I think that after paying the consequences, they should be given that second chance.

I know what some of you are thinking, if a person has done wrong they should be punished, and that's true. However, if they have finished their punishment and sincerely want to make a new start, they should have the opportunity. The key word here is sincerely want to change. Even Peter, after denying he was a follower of Christ three times, the last time stating "I don't even know the man," was given a second chance. Look it up if you want in Mark 14:66-72 for the denials, but then look at Mark 16:7, where Peter gets a second chance. Verse 7, "But go tell the disciples and Peter. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as He told you." So, if Peter gets a second chance after what he did, we will get a second or even third chance as long as we are sincere about it.

What brought all this up? well, honestly most people would like to change. They know when they do wrong and they would like to change, but circumstances and people make it hard for them to change even if they want to.

I was approached by a mother in a local store abut her son who had made a mistake, but was sincerely trying to change. He had paid for the mistake, it had cost him and his family dearly, especially financially. Now he was trying to do right, he has a wife and child and he's trying his best to support them but can't find work because of his one mistake. I look at situations like this and say, "there but for the grace of God, go I." It would have been very easy while I was growing up to make a mistake like so many others. I'm grateful that the ones I made weren't serious enough to keep me from making a living. I also know that there are some who make mistakes over and over and are never going to change. I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about the ones who messed help, admitted it, paid the consequences, and now would like to put the past behind them and become productive citizens. "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." You may not agree but I hope and pray you don't make a mistake some day. Just food for thought this week!