People Like Me

If you're like me, you struggle.

If you're like me, you don't always say the right thing.

You may not always do the right thing either.

If you're like me, even your thoughts are a bit off track.

If you're like me, you beat yourself up mentally, wishing you could do better.

If you're like me, you don't always do better.

If you're like me, you appreciate the bit of hope, the glimmer of hope that comes when you realize someone still cares for you, regardless of how messed up you are.

My mom was and still is the one person that I can go to and feel accepted, regardless of anything that I have done wrong. She has always assured me that there's a second chance for me, and it comes more times than I can imagine.

I had been married for a little over a year, when I confessed to my mother that I had been in a sexual relationship before getting married. I felt compelled to tell her because of the guilt I had carried for so long. I felt like I had not only deceived her, but also brought shame to her name. Some may think that I had no need to confess to her. In essence, I was already in a marriage. What difference would it make then? To me, it made a the biggest difference. Not only was I able to confess a hidden sin, but I was able to experience a small magnitude of grace from someone who truly cared about me.

My mother's response felt so freeing to me. She not only embraced me but also assured me that I didn't need to carry any more guilt or shame. She accepted my apology, and mostly she accepted me.

Acceptance....it can truly bring a sense of validation for who you are.

If you are anything like me, you have screwed up a lot of things in your life because of your own tendencies and struggles.

If you're like me, you've hurt those you love.

You've been ungrateful and selfish.

You've shunned God, when you didn't get your way.

If you're like me, you have some regrets.

Psalm 19: 12-14, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

Romans 3:10, "As it is written: there is no righteous, not even one."

Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

If you're like me, read carefully.... Jesus came for people like me.