Have you ever had a fail day? What I mean is, have you ever had a day where you just felt like you didn’t make the cut? Like you couldn’t get anything right? Like you were a disappointment to yourself or those around you? Like you weren’t the spouse, parent, friend, or coworker you wanted and needed to be? We’ve all been there right? Come on, I know it’s not just me.
In fact, yesterday was one of those days for me. One of those days when I was just a little too exhausted and overwhelmed, and therefore allowed myself to be a little too short and demanding with everyone. A day when, at the end once quiet had descended and I had some time to reflect, I immediately ran to each of my children, hugged them close, and told them how much I loved them. Because, my goodness, I sure hadn’t done a good job of showing my love that day.
Of course, my actions were entirely my choice. No one made me short tempered and demanding. I just allowed myself to act that way because it was easier, under the stress and exhaustion, than actually gathering myself and calmly approaching the obstacles of the day.
The Promise of the Second Chance
Regardless of the reason, big or small, don’t we all have days, weeks, months, or even years that we wish we could do over? Those times that we look back and wish we would have acted differently, had more patience, tried harder, or just taken a different path altogether.
We all long for the second chance. The do-over. The “I’ll try harder next time”. The “If I only knew then what I know now”. Second chances are a common thing to hope for and fantasize about, no matter if that second chance is in love, career, with family, our own health, etc. We long for the second chance and the idea that it could right the wrongs made in anger, frustration, desperation, uncertainty, or selfishness.
But we can’t wait for each new tomorrow to turn into the second chance we have been waiting for. If I want to have a better attitude today and not allow other factors to determine how I act and what I do, then I must choose to take that chance and be better. Easier said than done, yes, but worth it.
Choosing the Second Chance Each Day
Author Charleigh Rose said, “Second chances are not given to make things right, but are given to prove that we could be better even after we fall.”
Have you thought about this? Have you ever thought that maybe you were meant to make that mistake? That the very thing you want to do-over was meant to be a part of your path, your own learning curve, your history? That maybe you were meant to live that experience so that when your second chance comes along you would be stronger and surer of how to proceed?
Does that mean your second chance is going to look just as you always imagined? Is your second chance going to right every wrong or be perfect each time? Of course not. And each situation is different as well.
Maybe you are waiting for a second chance at something very specific or suddenly find yourself presented with an unexpected chance to try again. No matter how or when it may come about, if you are blessed with a second chance in life, I think you must realize that God has put this in front of you for a reason. He needs you here. He needs you to try again, to make the best of it, or maybe to learn or experience something that you didn’t the first time.
If you are still here, alive and breathing today, then God is not done with you yet. He still has important work for you to do and that second chance could be sitting there right now, waiting for you to take it. You are the only one who can, the only one that second chance is meant for, no one else. So why not, every day, work on ourselves and take the day that was given to us as another chance?
Start New Tomorrow, With the Big and the Small
Just remember, if the day ends and you find yourself unhappy, either with yourself or the day in general, tomorrow is another day and another chance. A chance to improve, to share, to learn, to love, to live. But it’s up to each of us to make that new day, that second chance count for something. We can’t wait for all our ducks to fall into a perfect row, because that may never happen in the time or manner that we imagine.
Whatever it is you are working toward or hoping to change or learn, tomorrow you will get another chance to continue working toward and hoping for those things. If today was tough, tomorrow is a new day, and you have the chance to make it better. You get to try again. This isn’t an all or nothing test in school. It’s life. Honestly, most of us need way more than just one second chance, but a third, fourth, fifth, and beyond.
And aren’t we so grateful that God gives us a new day, the second chance? That He forgives our nonsense, even though we don’t deserve it, and gives us the chance of improving tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that?
Since yesterday was a day when I definitely wasn’t Wifey or Mommy Dearest, today I am giving thanks for the second chance of tomorrow. Because, of course, each new day brings about the possibility to be better and do better. But, as with most other things in life, we must mindfully choose to be better and do better. It’s something we must do for ourselves.
So no matter what second chance you are waiting for, whether it’s just a chance to have a better attitude and show more love and grace tomorrow, or the chance for a possible life-altering opportunity, I wish you the best and hope that you choose a second chance for yourself each day.
Thank you, friends. I wish you joy!
