I recently picked up my little girl from preschool.

 

“Where’s Daddy? Is he home?” she asked.

 

“No, not yet. He’s working in the city today,” I replied.

 

“In the city of Nineveh?” she asked.

 

Of course, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

 

This little girl with her short, curly hair that often sticks out in all directions and her big brown eyes loves singing songs she learns at school. One of them is a song called "Jona was gestuur" (Jonah was sent).

 

This also means that I’ve had to read the story of Jonah to her repeatedly before bedtime over the past few months. Sometimes, she takes her Bible and “reads” the story herself.

 

Again and again, I am reminded of Jonah, who chose not to go to Nineveh and instead followed his own path. I think about the things he had to endure before finally listening to God and obeying His commands.

 

Jonah wasn’t perfect; he made many mistakes, but God still wanted to use him. He gave Jonah another chance to make things right and to be obedient.

 

It’s never too late to try again. It’s never too late to change direction. It’s never too late to get up, admit you’ve failed and grab hold of a second chance. Maybe you’ve failed more than once, but that does not mean it’s the end.

 

Each new day is a chance to try again - to be better and do the right thing.

 

Prayer: Father, thank you that every day I get the chance to try again. Thank you for each day being a new beginning and that it’s never too late to try again. Amen.