Where is God When You Make Big Mistakes

I have had some memory problems during the last several days. Well, actually, I have always had memory problems. I tend to not pay attention to the details of life. I try to remember the high points, and let the little things slide. That can be a blessing (I don't really hold grudges) and it can be a curse.

This week it was a curse. My first missed detail was taking my oldest son Ryan to a birthday party Friday night. The only problem? The birthday was actually Saturday night. At least we hadn't missed it. Now the invitation came by phone and I did write it on my calendar. But I was obviously distracted when I got the details.

Then last night, Ryan had his second ever basketball game. This game, like most everything else in Ryan's world, Ryan takes very seriously. He came home from school telling me his game was at 6 p.m. But the schedule that I had made in a spreadsheet after looking at the e-mailed schedule his coach sent, said the game was at 7 p.m. When my husband got home he, too, thought the game was at 6. But MY schedule said 7. So I didn't bother to double check.

Turns out the game was at 6 and Ryan missed the first three quarters of the game, and I nominated myself for Worst Mom Ever. Ryan cried a little, I cried a lot, but all has been forgiven today. But I am still kicking myself for not paying attention to the details.

In the grand scheme of things, this wasn't a big mistake in my book. I am sure most people will forget all about this, except for me and probably Ryan, too. The truth is, we make mistakes and then we should learn from them and not repeat them. But that isn't always how it works.

I just read a short news article on parenting.com about "fallen idols." You know, Jamie Lynn Spears getting pregnant at 16, Miley Cyrus taking those provocative photos, Roger Clemens being accused of taking steroids, Vanessa Hudgens' (High School Musical star) nude internet photos, etc. They almost all apologized and had "reasons" for their behavior. You know, "I didn't realize" or "It was a lapse in judgment."

But the one that got me the most was the recent new about Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps. Photos of Phelps surfaced in a British paper that showed Phelps inhaling marijuana from a pipe.

It has been reported in many papers and on many Web sites, including parenting.com. that Phelps released a statement following this photo's release. It said: " "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and, despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

The main problem people have with this, myself included, was when Phelps was 19, he was arrested for drunken driving after the 2004 Olympics, according to abc.com. At that time, he said pretty much the same thing. He said he learned from his mistakes.

So did he? Do any of us really? I have lots of times forgotten things or written things down wrong, which didn't help at all when I messed up Ryan's game.

Here is the bottom line about making mistakes, no matter how big or small. All mistakes have consequences. And all mistakes require us asking for forgiveness without an excuse.

The Bible has TONS of examples of people making mistakes. Everything from people suffering the ultimate consequence of bad behavior - death, to people being given the ultimate forgiveness - life in Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross for each of our sins, his death applied to everyone who will accept the gift. And although some people choose not to accept this gift, it is still available to them. When Jesus died, our mistakes or sins were forgiven. All we have to do is admit our mistakes, realize our need for God, accept Christ as our savior from those sins and follow Him.

In The Message Bible, Romans 8:1-2 says, "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death."

God doesn't care why we did what we did, doesn't care the reasons we have for the mistakes that we make. He just wants to forgive those mistakes for us. And all we have to do is ask.

The New Living Translation Bible in Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

So have you made a mistake, big or small? Have you used excuses or asked for forgiveness? None of us are perfect and God doesn't care what your mistake is, just that you come to Him for forgiveness. All you have to do is ask ...