Happy Sunday

Do Over "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) I can still remember those games me and my friends played when I was a boy. There were no leagues that we had to join. There were no coaches telling us that we were doing something wrong. There were no officials blowing whistles and enforcing rules. There were just children playing and having a great time. The teams were made up of whomever showed up that day. The games were filled with joking, laughter and smiles. The rules were whatever we decided they would be. Everyone was allowed to play and more often than not we didn't even keep score. If there ever was a dispute or argument during a game it could always be solved too by those magic words: "Do over." I know that a lot of us would still love to have a "do over" at times. There isn't a one of us who hasn't wished that we could take back a mistake and start over again. Some people even wish that they could have a "do over" for their whole lives. Well, the good news is that we can have a "do over" if we want. We may not be able to actually go back in time and take back the mistakes, missteps, and wrong turns that we have made in this life, but we can ask our Heavenly Father to forgive them and know that He will. Then we can begin again from this moment and start to live our lives the way we have always wanted to. Even if we stumble and fall again the next day, we can ask forgiveness again, rise up and start over once more. God doesn't count the number of times we fall in this life. He only counts the number of times we pick ourselves up to try again. In truth, every single day of our lives here is a "do over". Each day is another chance to get it right. Each day is another opportunity to love God, ourselves, and others. Each day is fresh start to live in peace and share your joy with others. Make the most of them all. Joseph J. Mazzella