Second Chances

Last night I attended a "Girls' Night Out" with my mother-in-law, Aunt Linda, and some other Bunco friends. The functions are once a month and have a new theme each night. Last night was a tea party and we learned proper etiquette when you attend tea.
The second speaker talked about second chances. She asked us to list 5 things we're thankful for. Then, she gave her life story, which included having a baby girl at the age of 16 and being sent to a home for unwed mothers (this was in 1965) where she was forced to attend "services" and hear all about what an awful sinner she was and how God could never love such a bad person. She was also forced to give up her daughter for adoption (they let her hold the baby for 3 minutes). Years later, in her late 30s, she and her husband started attending church and ended up adopting 2 boys (one whose mother dropped him off at the train station in Seattle at the age of 7 and told him she didn't want him anymore). She said how happy she was to figure out that she wasn't the only sinner in the world! What I took away from it was how she struggled to forgive herself for her past sin. She had this incredible guilt, and even though she knew she was a new, clean person in Christ, she just couldn't let go of that time in her life. I can relate. Some things are hard to let go of. But when you finally do let go and let the Lord heal you, it is the most freeing feeling. You will always remember that mistake, but the hurt has disappeared. I'm so thankful that I have second chances in life!