I believe in second chances.

So, I've been helping a friend out lately with a relationship issue.  I won't get into the details because it's pretty complicated, and it was a result of a lot of misunderstanding.  Basically everyone surrounding her who didn't know all of the minor details has been telling her to just break up with her boyfriend based on 1 particular situation; but after a 6 hour conversation with her, getting down to the root of the issue, where the misunderstanding happened, who is to "blame," and what made the situation blow up into a huge ordeal, we realized 1 thing:  Everyone deserves a second chance.

Our main reasoning for this conclusion was that it is the Christian thing to do.  Imagine if Jesus decided not to give all of us sinners a second (or third, fourth, or fifth) chance... We'd be sunk!  As Christians, we're supposed to live a life that mirrors the life of Jesus.  Jesus built his life on earth based on forgiveness, love, reaching the lost/unpopular/outcasts, and bringing the hope of new life to a world full of people who don't deserve it!  It's not our place to judge others or condemn them.  We should be willing (even though it is HARD) to forgive them and to give them a second chance.

That being said, it's important to guard your heart.  To the world, giving second chances might make you seem weak and like a doormat - letting people walk all over you.  But as Christians, we answer to God.  And God commands forgiveness.  He also commands us to guard our hearts.  Giving a second chance doesn't mean pretending like nothing happened.  That's ignorant.  It means forgiving the person and working with them to cautiously move forward and work to heal the wounds of the past.  My friend has set strict standards for herself and her boyfriend for moving forward so that they can maintain trust and respect with each other.  If those standards get compromised, then in order to guard her heart from being hurt more, she's got to cut it off.  For both of their sakes.

Not everyone may agree with second chances, but in my heart I can't help but give them.  I truly believe that is how Jesus calls us to react when adversity strikes us.