Second Chances

{Post 48/365: Original post: I AM LOVE}


There are many second chances in life for many people and many things.
Broken things that have been fixed have a second chance.
Pets who have been abandoned and rescued have a second chance.
A person with cancer that has gone into remission has a second chance.
An alcoholic who has become sober has a second chance.
A person who has lost a job and found a new one has a second chance.
A person that has survived an accident or other tragedy has a second chance.
A person who has been stuck in a dark and dangerous life and left it behind for a new beginning has a second chance.
A cheater who has broken his/her spouses heart, repented and been forgiven has a second chance.
A friend who has betrayed trust and friendship and been forgiven has a second chance.
A drug addict who has gotten clean and straight has a second chance.
A person who has been stuck in an abusive relationship and breaks FREE has a second chance.
A person who has had some kind of organ transplant has a second chance.
A criminal who has paid his debt in prison time has a second chance.
A parent who has not ben the best role model for many reasons can be forgiven and have a second chance.
A child that has made a mistake can learn from it and have a second chance.

Really in life, we are all children making mistakes and learning from them every day. Sometimes it is difficult to get past our own hurts and mistrust to GIVE that second chance to someone who we perceive has wronged us in some way but, perhaps we should just try to think about whether or not we would want THEM to forgive us if we had done the wrong.  We should try to have the courage to FORGIVE them and ourselves and open the door to second chances because maybe a deeper commitment, a deeper understanding, deeper compassion, deeper intimacy, deeper friendship can come from having the strength to BE open and trying to move forward.
Sometimes letting go, moving on and saying goodbye is a second chance also because sometimes we are not strong enough to work through the pain or mistrust to find the deeper meaning of our connection.
People need each other but, many of us need the integrity and trust of a committed and whole...UNBROKEN relationship because sometimes second chances are difficult to GIVE.  For some, being GIVEN a second chance is even difficult because of fearing whether or not we are strong enough to uphold our part in it. Maybe guilt, misunderstanding of ourselves and others, or the belief that we are not good enough or capable of keeping our word leads to the failure of doing so. We believe we don't deserve a second chance therefore we never fully embrace it with the depth and gratitude we should in order to truly appreciate it and honour it.

I BELIEVE in second chances but, I have a very hard time ever giving them to a person I don't think is really sorry for whatever wrong they have done to me. If you are insincere in your repentance I doubt you will be forgiven. I have to know that you understand and truly MEAN the things that you say to me. I have given second chances many times and thirds and more but I have also had to let go and walk away from people too. YOU are the only person who can know whether keeping someone or letting them go is the best thing for YOU.  You only have to search inside your own heart to know this truth but, if you find that giving a second chance might be the answer then just embrace the fact that it may be difficult and is definitely a process but DO it with your whole heart and you may just be rewarded with an even deeper connection to someone who challenges you, engages you, mirrors you, or just makes you better than you were before!