Friday... Maybe give it another chance.

Is there some area in your life where you need another chance or maybe there is someone in your life who needs another chance?

In my reading in the book of Luke I came across this story. It is in chapter 13 verses 6-7 (CEV). It says, "Jesus then told them this story: A man had a fig tree in his vineyard. One day he went out to pick some figs, but he didn't find any." Now how would we handle that? I'm sure we would be frustrated and I'm sure we have been frustrated.

The story goes on, "So he says to the gardner, 'For three years I have come looking for figs on this tree, and I haven't found any yet. Chop it down! Why should it take up space?'"

So, what comes to your mind? Is it a job? Is it a spouse? Maybe it is it a child who is still at home or it may be a grown up child. Maybe it is you. It just seems like you can't take care of that problem in yourself and you are to the place that you're ready to give up.

Now I hope you are or you have a patient gardener in your life. Verses 8-9 says, "The gardener answered, 'Master, leave it for another year. I'll dig around it and put some manure on it to make it grow. Maybe it will have figs on it next year. If it doesn't, you can have it cut down."

There were three years in my life when I was really a jerk and it was a very difficult time for my wife. She could have at any point said, "Chop it down! Why should it take up space?" But she didn't.

I was talking to my barber yesterday about the fact that we are this year going to have our fiftieth wedding anniversary. I am so glad that Margaret, my wife, didn't chop down our marriage but stayed with it. Yes, if there is abuse or infidelity and you have done all you can to make the marriage work, there may be a time that you have to chop it down. For sure if there is abuse something needs to happen. But I'm so glad that I changed.

But make sure, give whatever or whoever it is, another chance. Verses 8-9 in The Message says, "The gardner said, 'Let's give it another year. I'll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn't, then chop it down.'"

I'm so glad that Margaret didn't give up on me and I'm so glad that our gardner, Jesus hasn't either. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Todays Beginning

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