Clarity

You know that time, when all you've worked so hard for, lays before you? That point when it had been picked apart and the detritus lay scattered? When, despite all your best efforts, it all was one big whopping mess?
That time? That moment when you recognize that you have failed and you had needed to succeed, because this had been important? There was that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, and you know the lash-back will be great, is great? Because, this had been important.?
That time?
Do you know it?
When the shambled mess of it all seems impossible to ever set right? Is impossible? So what do you do now, for you know, with all your being, that This. Is. Your. Fault.?
It was when you acknowledged that You. Are. Not. Perfect. In fact, that you are indeed, human. Just like everyone else.
What did you do with that?
Oh, I've seen plenty schmooze their way out of it, blaming someone else, or just plain walk away. I've seen lies sprinkled liberally, or the whole affair seasoned with false hope, that this could be repaired. Ha!
Me? I tend to wallow, with grand pity-parties where I send out invitations to come and see, and when I attempt to leave the scene, I find I am covered with all that was wrong. And I am chock-full of blame and shame. Yep, chock-full.
This is your opportunity to choose. Shrivel up from condemnation or grow.
Your opportunity. To accept the consequences, despite their cost, and be better for it. And that's what is so startling about it- it's been an opportunity. You never would have guessed that failure could be so good. Never.
It is right here, and only right here, in this predicament, that you can find acceptance. Even discover forgiveness. And lavished over it all, removing the worst of it, has been love. This is where hope was born, courage is given.
But God demonstrates His own love for us by this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
While we were. While. On that occasion. In that moment. At precisely That time. You know that time? Yep. Right there. That's when God showed up, when He sweeps you off your feet and sweetly whispers in your ear, “I've got this.”
You always wondered what grace was. Now, you know.

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Romans 5:20