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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Oops (01/14/10)
Oops, I Did it Again

Several years ago, when Britney Spears came out with her silly song entitled, “Oops, I Did it Again” I couldn’t help but chuckle - not at the song, but how it reminded me of my own life and my plethora of “oops” moments.


I have long thought that my life contains way more “oops” moments than the average person’s. I still cringe as I remember some of those stand-out experiences. There was the time I dropped a hymnal over the balcony at church - during the pastor’s benediction. There was the time in 4th grade music class when our teacher instructed us to remain silent during one part of “Silver Bells” and let the piano fill in as we practiced for our Christmas program. Everyone caught that instruction but me, and when we got to that part of the song, I sung a solo! I still can’t listen to “Silver Bells” today without remembering that! There was the time I slid across the college dining hall in my high heeled shoes. I managed to grab onto a bar supporting the tray counter, which saved me from doing a face plant into the wall - but it wasn’t enough to save me from my own humiliation and the laughter of my fellow collegians! It was also that same year that I decided dressing in the early-morning dark had its drawbacks - when I showed up in class wearing a black skirt with navy hose! I was never more embarrassed, when, as a new mom, I had to take my 6 month old into the ER because I had accidentally poisoned him with his brother’s high-dose prescription medicine (in my defense, I was bone tired - both boys sat with their mouths open, I had two spoons, one with medicine, and one with baby cereal - it could have happened to anyone - right?).

But honestly, as klutzy and air-headed as my experiences show me to be, I can live with these kind of oops moments! Someday, I’m sure I’ll be able to laugh about them! But what I can’t laugh about are the other “oops” moments that occur in my life. There are the harsh words I’ve spoken to my husband, children and others. There are the times I’ve slandered people with my gossip. There are the times that I haven’t made the phone call or visit that I should have. And there are the moments when I had the perfect opportunity to share Christ with someone and I didn’t.

Those “oops” moments are the ones I regret and strive not to repeat. But, unfortunately, being human, I do. That’s why I appreciate so much the words in Lamentations 3:22- 23: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”* I may really mess things up, but God doesn’t hold it against me. He forgives and we start over. God doesn’t cringe when he thinks of me and how I sinned, like I do when I think of my “oops” moments. Every day is new opportunity to start fresh and clean with the Lord. What a Faithful God we have!


*quotation from New King James Bible translation
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This article has been read 1073 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jeanne E Webster
01/22/10
Well woven humorous and serious "Oops'" article. Yes, we all have the regrettable oops moments and relive them over and over...if only I would have.... Thanks be to God for His mercies upon us. Blessings.
Janice Fitzpatrick
01/22/10
Very well put and relateable piece. I could write a book of all the oops in my life.:0) Thanks be to God He rewrites those pages every day and gives me the strength and the wisdom to learn from my mistakes. I so enjoyed this piece and could smile along with you, as we all have made "oops" in or lives too. God bless your writing.:0)Thx for sharing this.
Avigail David
01/22/10
I can relate to this. Isn't God merciful? His mercies are new every morning that we can always find grace and forgiveness when we seek Him? And in His kindness, we can always draw daily strength to walk in the path He shows us?

Thank you for your sharing.
Blessings to you,
Maryknoll
Jan Ackerson
01/25/10
I loved reading your different "oops"--this really tickled me.

A suggestion: divide the longer paragraphs into several shorter ones. I'd also be interested in a story that expands on one of the humorous incidents mentioned here.

I've started a thread in the message boards specifically for Beginner and Intermediate writers, and I'd love to have you stop by. http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=67

This was a delightful read!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
01/26/10
I really like how you introduced an excellent message with humorous personal experiences.
Sarah Elisabeth
01/29/10
Congrats on placing 11th in Level 1 with your entry! You can check out the highest rankings each week on the forums: http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=28510
Verna Mull
02/03/10
This was a very interesting memory of OOPS! You did a great job. It was humourous, and yet left some of the rest of us "oopsers" to relieve some similar experiences. Just some of the little things that help shape our lives into the plan that God has for us! Only real criticism I have, is that, perhaps, you used the "oops" a bit often, like you could have just said something like-well, there I did it again, or some other wording so that it wasn't repeated quite so many times. Not anything serious, just something that I noticed. keep writing! It was very interesting. "Oops!" I hope that i didn't say anything to discourage you, because it really was an interesting piece, and I loved your ending!