Do You Need a Do Over?

My oldest son dutifully plucks out the notes to “Amazing Grace” as he practices his guitar lessons.

While I'm astounded by his natural propensity for music, he sometimes makes mistakes.

When he does, his first inclination is to scrunch up his face in disgust, roll his eyes, and groan loudly. Then he insists on starting all over again from the very first note.

But my husband and I encourage him to just keep playing.

In fact, often my untrained ear wouldn’t even notice the wrong note.

There is a chance he inherited these perfectionist tendencies from his mother.

But don’t we all want a do over every now and then?

I know I do.

Like when I’ve lost my temper with my boys before they’ve brushed their teeth in the morning.

Or when I verbally assault my husband as he walks through the door late for dinner before hearing how miserable his day was.

Or when terribly insensitive words escape my lips before I can stop them.

Maybe when I’ve cheated on my New Year’s resolutions before Valentine’s Day.

Or when I miss a day of my #write365 challenge or daily Bible reading plan.

I bet Adam and Eve wished they could have turned back the clock as the serpent slithered away and God confronted them in the Garden.

Mistakes are a part of life. None of us will get everything right every time.

Yet the minutes continue to march forward like the constant tic of a metronome.

We wouldn't make it very far in life if we had to keep taking it from the top every time we messed up.

The enemy likes to use this tactic to stall any headway we make. He wins when he can interrupt our performance and convince us we aren't worthy of continuing. He keeps us enslaved by an unattainable standard of perfect adherence to the law when grace has already set us free.

God is able to orchestrate a symphony with even our worst mistakes.

Word of the Day: I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Dear Father,
Thank you that in Your son I have the ultimate “do over.” Help me to keep my eyes focused on the prize I have in Him and not to become distracted by the weight of my sins in this world. By Your Holy Spirit, help me to recall the hope I have in my salvation and lead me in Your way of righteousness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

​Author:  Liz Giertz

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