Saturday Sermonette - Do Overs

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” Matthew 21:28-31a, NKJV.

Writers may be the exceptions to the professional world where there is no time or encouragement to do a thing over. Writers, on the other hand, write, rewrite, and rewrite again and again until the finished product is declared good to go.

In life, I wish so much there were do-overs. Times when I said or did the wrong thing and hurt someone's feelings. Times when I said I would do a thing and slept through it instead. Times when I made a huge life error--lots of those. I can't go back and do it over. Life doesn't work that way. Sometimes events can be mended, but some memories seem to stick around far too long, no mending in sight.

So what's the cure? You can't fix the past, but you can learn from it. Think before speaking, show up when you say you will. Pray for wisdom. Be willing to skip something you love for another person's sake. Remember success is not making more money or having more toys.

For me, success means learning to love God and the people he puts in my life more. It's a neverending process, but worth the effort.

Lord, please remind me when greed shows its beautiful head that I must remember, You first. I need to sacrifice myself sometimes for others. Help me remember before I begin that big messes sometimes can't be cleaned up. In Jesus's loving name, Amen.