Poor Choices & the Power of Forgiveness

by Nick Popadich

Every day we are faced with countless choices. Some are trivial, such as what to wear to work (well, trivial for most guys anyway). Others are more complicated, such as how to handle that annoying co-worker. Then there are life choices regarding which career path to follow or who to marry.

With so many choices, we are bound to make some poor ones. There are times in the path of life when we fall. We choose to be less than the best sibling, spouse or co-worker we can be. But no matter how many times we fail to be the person we aspire to be, we must keep trying.

Poor Choices

I was sent the following story in an email and liked what it had to say about sin and second-chances. If we hope to ever achieve our dreams and our full potential, we cannot let our past failures stand in our way. God offers each of us a limitless number of chances to start each day anew.

Grandma's Duck

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. And he was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just on an impulse, he took aim with the slingshot, and let fly. The small rock hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.

In a panic, he hid the dead duck behind the wood pile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to her bother, "Remember the duck?"

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, but Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."

Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help you." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"

So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

The Power of Forgiveness

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done – lies, debts, fears, hatred, anger, bitterness condemnation - whatever it is, you need to know that Christ has already forgiven you. When the enemy keeps throwing it up in your face in an attempt to hold you hostage, you need to understand that Jesus Christ was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

Jesus wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the enemy make a slave of you. There is no need to hide from Him or feel ashamed, for He does not hold a grudge. Your past indiscretions cannot taint the love Christ has for you. Thus, one of the great things about God is that He not only forgives - in essence, He also forgets.

Life Applications:

What are some things in your past for which you are ashamed?
Do you have "skeletons in your closet"? Things that no one knows?
Do you "hide" your past from God? Or do you talk about it with Him?
Even though God may forgive us, are we able to accept that forgiveness? Or do we reject it and heap condemnation upon ourselves?

Copyright 2001 by Nick Popadich
All rights reserved.