by Sylvia Hutchinson

Psalm 103: 1-5 (from The Message):
Oh my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
Don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your disesases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
God makes everything come out right;
He puts victims back on their feet.

When I was a middle school child, I came to my Mother and complained about something that had happened to me.   I deemed the treatment that I had received as unfair.  Feeling unjustly victimized, I said with great authority that “life was not fair.”

My Mother replied that I was correct. She reiterated as she put her arms around me, “Life is Not Fair and that is why you, nor anyone else is ever punished for all our mistakes.”

It took a minute or two for her words to sink in, but how true it is and how grateful we all are that we don’t get punished every time we stretch the truth, speak unkind words about someone, run a red light, speed, or a hundred other infractions which I am sure I commit regularly.

Thanks be to an understanding and loving God.