It's So Nice To Be Nice

A few days ago, I commented on another site. The post was entitled, ‘Another Chance,’  where the author discussed how people are given another chance to get things right in their lives. She mentioned Michael Vick,  a friend’s infidelity, and her own mishaps as well.

She ended the post with this question, “How have you been given another chance, and what will you do with it?”

Here’s my response:

You know you could have added Whitney Houston to the mix, right?

But to answer your question, I honestly believe that I’m given another chance everyday to get things right and become the person I was created to be.

When I read the question, I couldn’t really think of any major mishaps in my life…..when i make mistakes, I apologize and move on…at least I try to move on. Sometimes, unfortunately, those same mistakes are made again. I may say the wrong thing at the wrong time to a loved one, fail to speak up for myself, or overeat at a family gathering.

Now these may seem minor in comparison to the list you mentioned above, but the consequences can be just as detrimental.

What’s important for me is that, I apologize and recognize when I make these mistakes because change can only commence with recognition and confession.

For this reason, I’m learning to be patient with myself and others. Mistakes, broken promises, and inconsistencies are going to happen. Some will be small and others, may be large like the ones you mentioned above….but they’re all apart our life lessons. What’s most important is that I learn from them….

Sure, I practice doing the right thing, saying positive affirmations, and encouraging others, but there are many times when I certainly miss the mark. Often times, these singular instances have the greatest impact. Take a car accident that occurred because a woman looked back at her children while stopped at a stop light or the woman that made a mistake and left her wedding ring in the mall bathroom while washing her hands or the critical statement that echoes in a child’s ears for years.

Now, these don’t really compare to what you mentioned…but I guess in someways they do. What they have in common is really a lapse of judgment….and this happens to all of us from time to time.

And I’m not sure what we’ll do with the lesson learned.  Beyond dealing with the consequences of our behaviors, hopefully, we’ll learn something and begin to put it in practice, but to promise and/or commit to never do XYZ or never let XYZ happen again is, in my opinion, easier said than done.

I can say anything, but I don’t know what I’ll do in a given situation until it arises and since I don’t know what the future will bring, I take each day as it comes, asking God to help me make the best decisions at the appropriate time, become more like him because I am only human, and practice forgiveness of self.

Your thoughts? Have you had any second chances? How have you responded to your second chance?