The Second Time Around
“We’re given second chances every day of our life. We don’t usually take them, but they’re there for the taking.” Andrew M. Greeley
Patsy Ann, a New Yorker student, returned to Texas and her family. A few months later, she had some surprises to share.
Her voice bubbled as she said, “Dah’lin, ahm goin’ back to college to become a teacher. It’s just plain fun to watch little kids larnin’ from puppets. And ah’m datin’ the boy I adored in hahh school. He’s de-vorced now and ah’m gettin’ him on the second tahm around. How about That!”
Carol had a marriage made in heaven, we thought. Her husband is a famous, handsome, wealthy man who treated her like a princess. Nothing was too good for her. I had to laugh when she traipsed into her overstuffed closet, pulled on some jeans, and twirling around, said, “Look, I have jeans like yours.
And they were only $225!”
Well, this fairy tale marriage hit the skids – because of high heels and new grass. Carol walked across Derek’s newly landscaped grass; they fought; he moved out; they separated with intent to divorce.
Then Carol learned that Derek’s beloved mother had died! She was furious when his secretary broke the news to her and was about to call and lay him out when a friend suggested another response.
“Call him in Utah, tell him how sorry you are and ask what you can do to help.”
Carol resisted then agreed. Surprisingly, Derek asked his wife, a fantastic hostess, to arrange a funeral breakfast – in Utah, a coast away. Carol hung up, stunned. Whaat, she said. Is he nuts? But she took a deep breath, called a hotel caterer in Utah, made arrangements and passed the information to her mourning hubby. He fell in love all over again; he apologized; she apologized; they lived happily ever after.
We all need to get and give second chances.
I once met a gal I instinctively liked but then disliked. We seemed diametrically opposed. For months, we did not speak. Then Alicia’s dad died. I wrote a condolence note saying that I admired her care of him. She said thank you. Soon, we were talking. We’ve now begun to see – and appreciate — our similarities more than our differences. The second time around.
Meditation for the Day
“There’s so much more to everyone you will ever meet than will ever meet your eye.” Fred Rogers, minister, author, host of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood
Action for the Day
Today, I will give the other guy or gal a second chance unless it will hurt me or others.
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