Ever wish you could have a do-over? But, then again. . .

That’s the great thing about blogging, I can absolutely take a do-over. I could delete and completely re-write my first blog if I wanted to and no one would be the wiser. I hesitate to entirely erase my first blog, because I’d like to see how far I’ve come.

Isn’t that how life is? Sometimes I wish I could’ve had a do-over when I was 25 and decided to get married. We were having a fancy private dinner at the County Club. We had a view overlooking the golf course and the twinkling lights of the city. I felt like a true princess with one on one attention from the waiters, the best food I’ve ever eaten and a dreamy boy sitting next to me.  He presented me with a beautiful silver jewelry box and inside was a gorgeous diamond ring, intended for my finger. In truth, I was terrified at the question and even more terrified when the answer “yes” came out of my mouth.

What followed were 14 years of wedded . . . wedded. . .marriage. We definitely had bliss, and we had many laughs, tears, joy, anger, pain, sadness, challenges and more joy. (Yes, for all of you asking the question in your heads – what about the boys you are always bragging about, that benefit goes without saying).   If I tried to take a do-over at the proposal I would have missed the laughter, joy, and most importantly the opportunity to look back and see how far I’ve come.

Without the 14 years of marriage, including the final two most difficult years, I couldn’t be sitting here listening to chatting of my boys, clicking away on a blog. If you told me four  years ago I’d be writing a blog, I would’ve said, “no way, I don’t have anything to write about.”  I’ve been led down this particular path for a purpose greater than my own. I couldn’t have dreamed of the possibility of writing a blog, climbing mountains, visiting foreign countries, pulling a tooth, ziplining in Honduras, or competing in a triathlon. Those adventures might be the product of getting a do-over  from divorce, but the experience of being married to that particular man at that particular time in my life set the stage for greater things to come.

As for the first blog I wrote, waaayyyy back when (a week ago), I’m going to keep it posted.  I’ll just kindly ask you to skip over it and move onto the more provocative “Let’s Talk about Sex.” I believe a do-over  is great, they are God’s redemption of us. Just don’t erase and try re-writing history. You’ve been given all of your experiences for a purpose greater than you.  You may find yourself taking on adventures you’d never dreamed of, and better yet having an opportunity give someone else a do-over.