A second chance

A song I know tells of a young girl who falls in love with an alcoholic, moves away from home, has 3 children, whom she is left with when he dies at an early age. She is left alone, far from family, working at some mundane job to eke out a living. She complains, "a young girl doesn't get a better chance".

We have all been young and should remember how smart we thought we were, but in looking back later realized we were not so smart. How many young people make foolish choices and ruin their lives? All to often, if they had really thought about things they would have made better choices, but now the deed is done and the consequences follow. They begin to use, then later to abuse alcohol or drugs. Before long they're on a one way street headed the wrong way and while they may wonder "how did I ever get here", the damage is already done. Or perhaps, like the girl in the song, they marry without knowing the person and rather than being heaven on earth it becomes a living hell. Maybe there is a child born out of wedlock. In all these cases, the dreams and hopes that this young person had will not come to fruition. Oh why did they make such foolish decisions, spoiling all their hopes and dreams?

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him." (Prov. 22:15) As parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, even mentors we have a chance to guide young people away from their foolish notions. "But they won't listen" is the refrain from many, but at least at times they WILL. Rather than face possible rejection we sit by saying nothing of their wrong choices. Let us instead take the chance--say something. The dreams you say may also be your own.

Tol