by Marlene Legaspi-Munar

http://www.febc.ph/stations/dzas/protips/index.html

Have you had your second chance? A second chance is another opportunity given to us to fulfill something after a failure. May mga taong nataningan na ang buhay pero lumakas at gumaling. That's a second chance at life. Ang iba naman, nakabawi mula sa kahirapan o mula sa pagkalugi ng kanilang negosyo. May mga artistang nawala sandali sa limelight at halos hindi na napapansin but when given the right break, sumigla uli ang kanilang career. Accidents, injuries, ignorance, pressures from others, lack of resources, or drastic changes in our situations may cause us to fail or put our dreams on hold. Maaaring may na-miss tayo, pero puwede pa rin tayong magkaroon ng second chance. Let me encourage you today by giving you three stories about second chances.

Kilala nyo na siguro si Pedro, ang agresibong disipulo ni Cristo. Nang malaman ni Pedro na kailangang pumunta ni Jesus sa Jerusalem at doon siya'y papatayin, sinabi niyang hindi iyon dapat mangyari sa Kanya. Ngunit nang araw na dakpin si Jesus, tatlong ulit na pinagkanulo ni Pedro ang Panginoon. Malaking pagtataksil ang ginawa ni Pedro at talagang nakakahiya sa Panginoon. Ngunit nang mabuhay na muli ang Panginoong Jesus, binigyan siya ng tatlo ring pagkakataon para ipahayag ang pagmamahal niya kay Jesus. Hindi lang nanumbalik ang relasyon ni Pedro sa Panginoong Jesus, nagamit rin siyang muli sa pangangaral ng Magandang Balita at sa pamumuno ng naunang kalipunan ng mga mananampalataya.

Si Abraham Lincoln naman ang ika-labinganim na presidente ng Amerika at itinuturing na isa sa malaking impluwensya sa kasaysayan ng kanilang bansa. He was President during the Civil War and he prevented the separation of his country into two parts. Sa ilalim din ng kanyang termino napalaya ang mga slaves ng panahong iyon. But did you know that before he became the president, he failed in so many local and national elections? He kept trying hanggang sa dumating ang tamang panahon at naging presidente siya ng bansang Amerika.

Si Jim Morris naman marahil ay bago sa inyong pandinig. Well, si Jim Morris ay isang high school science teacher at baseball coach. Dati siyang professional baseball player but because of an injury he had to quit. As a baseball coach, he challenged his team, na kulelat sa ranking, na maging division champion. In return, his team dared him to try out for the major baseball league kung sakaling manalo nga silang division champion. The team won and Morris kept his part of the deal by trying out. Kahit may edad na siya, he pitched amazingly well kaya kinuha siya ng isang Florida-based baseball team. At 35, Jim Morris became one of the oldest rookies ever in US baseball history. Incidentally, his life story was made into a film titled "The Rookie" and was a surprise hit in the US.

How about you? Hindi man siguro maisapelikula ang inyong buhay but your story of a second chance can also encourage others to move one. You can still have a future even after a failure. There is still glory in second chance. Just remember, don't forget to bring back the glory to God who gives you all the chances that you need.