Groundhog Day and Do-overs

Every year around Groundhog Day, tv stations will play the movie by the same name over and over. And somewhere in that loop, I will watch it at least once. If you're not familiar with the movie, Bill Murray plays a reporter sent to Punxsutawney to watch the groundhog see its shadow.

To the reporter's chagrin, he wakes up the next morning only to repeat the day before, thus being in a endless loop repeating Groundhog Day. While I find the movie hilarious, my sister says it's the most ridiculous movie she's ever seen. 

As I think of Groundhog Day, inevitably I think of do-overs and ponder the question: if you were given a do-over, would you take it? What would it be? Perhaps you would use one for a test in school; a relationship; a wrongly spoken conversation; a bad choice.

I hate regrets and missed opportunities. I'm continually asking the Lord, "is there something in me that needs to change? Is there something I need to confess?" Being an extrovert with a big mouth (what? Me??) there have been many times I wish I could have a do-over and taken a word back. Like the time I asked the lady when her baby was due (don't ask that!) or the time my daughter slipped down a flight of stairs at a restaurant and I "shushed" her!

While we can't take words back any more that we can put feathers back in a burst pillow, it gives me great hope to know that with the Lord, His mercies are new every morning. I can rest assured that He's always ready to forgive me, letting me have a second, third, or eighteenth chance.

So if you're struggling with the need for a do-over, join this fellow struggler and know that, first of all, it might not be as bad as it seems; secondly, you're probably the only one who is still thinking about it; or finally, that "His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness."

Til next time, keep moving forward, not looking back at your shadow!

Joy!