CURRENT SERIES: NEW BEGINNINGS
DAY 23: A NEW START ... BY OPENING YOUR HEART TO LOVE AGAIN
By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
[Background: I often receive e-mails from readers asking me if God would ever give them a second chance to love. This story might help you to not miss the opportunities already presented in your life.]
Next to Mary’s open grave, her friend Sam wept uncontrollably. Her death was clearly a tremendous blow to him. Most of the neighbors around the tomb, looked at each other in surprise. No one ever realized that Sam, “the gentle giant” as they referred to him, actually had a deep love and caring for his neighbor in the retirement village.
After most of the mourners had left the cemetery, the pastor approached Sam who was still sobbing next to the grave. “Sam,” the minister started with a soft voice. “I am sure Mary is at a better place and she appreciated your love tremendously while she was still alive.” After this comment, Sam started wailing even louder.
When he finally calmed down for a few moments, Sam turned his head towards the pastor and said: “Reverend, I loved this woman for many, many years. And there was one day... one day I almost told her! But I didn’t – and now it is too late.”
After Sam’s divorce a few years earlier, he started to isolate himself out of fear of ever being hurt again. Next to Mary’s grave, he suddenly realized that his fear robbed him from experiencing a second chance at love.
Are you currently finding yourself in a similar situation as Sam? Have you allowed a broken relationship from the past to rob you from another chance at love? Has a friend or family member who disappointed or hurt you in the past caused you to have no remarkable friendships today, or no relationship with your family?
Listen again to Paul's words in 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear . . . The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” In Mark 11:25 we read: “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone whom you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too.”
God can heal any hurt – if you let Him do it. He can give you a second chance at love and happiness. Do not isolate yourself by pushing away the people in your life. Nothing can be worse than standing next to an open grave, realizing that you will never again have an opportunity to tell a special person in your life that you love him or her! Do it today. God bless.
Father God, thank you for still giving me a chance to tell my loved ones that I appreciate them. Help me to build strong relationships that You will be proud of. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen
After most of the mourners had left the cemetery, the pastor approached Sam who was still sobbing next to the grave. “Sam,” the minister started with a soft voice. “I am sure Mary is at a better place and she appreciated your love tremendously while she was still alive.” After this comment, Sam started wailing even louder.
When he finally calmed down for a few moments, Sam turned his head towards the pastor and said: “Reverend, I loved this woman for many, many years. And there was one day... one day I almost told her! But I didn’t – and now it is too late.”
After Sam’s divorce a few years earlier, he started to isolate himself out of fear of ever being hurt again. Next to Mary’s grave, he suddenly realized that his fear robbed him from experiencing a second chance at love.
Are you currently finding yourself in a similar situation as Sam? Have you allowed a broken relationship from the past to rob you from another chance at love? Has a friend or family member who disappointed or hurt you in the past caused you to have no remarkable friendships today, or no relationship with your family?
Listen again to Paul's words in 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear . . . The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” In Mark 11:25 we read: “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone whom you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too.”
God can heal any hurt – if you let Him do it. He can give you a second chance at love and happiness. Do not isolate yourself by pushing away the people in your life. Nothing can be worse than standing next to an open grave, realizing that you will never again have an opportunity to tell a special person in your life that you love him or her! Do it today. God bless.
Father God, thank you for still giving me a chance to tell my loved ones that I appreciate them. Help me to build strong relationships that You will be proud of. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen
** BOOK LAUNCH OF WYSHEID, OORDENKINGS UIT SPREUKE by Benescke Janse van Rensburg: Saturday, 25 February 2012, Bellville. For more information, contact Karin at 021 949 7419 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a motivational speaker, freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense and also Wysheid, oordenkings uit Spreuke.