My husband and I have chosen to watch old episodes of Gunsmoke, Andy Griffith and other older t.v. programs when we eat dinner.  I guess that means we are officially “vintage”.

On GUNSMOKE, Marshall Dillon had such a kind heart.  He wanted to give everyone a fair shake.  I still wish he and Kitty had gotten together before the end of the show, but that is another blog.

One episode involved an old “gunfighter” who had led a gang.  A member of his gang had literally “shot him in the back” and he wanted revenge.  It took an entire year for him to heal, then four years to find the man.

Of course he stumbled upon a “widow woman” with two children.  He kept a wild dog from hurting the children and he and the lady became friends.  He was honest about his past.  Soon she realized that she had not opened herself up to love because of her past fears.

The old gunfighter found the man he wanted revenge on and was almost ready to kill him when he changed his mind.  The lady had said something to him that he remembered…. “Do not let the past dictate your future.”  He then turned to leave the man and you guessed it…he tried to shoot him in the back again.  The gunfighter had no choice in self defense but to shoot the man.

He was injured and went back to the “widow woman” and asked her to hide him. He knew his past would convict him and no one would believe his story. Marshall Dillon showed up to arrest him.  The lady asked to talk to him first and he turned himself in to the Marshall. He believed the gunfighter and was released. Before he left, he rode out to tell the “widow woman” he might be back in six months to be her hired hand.  He was a changed man.

See what I mean?  Redemption.  We cannot let our past mistakes dictate our future actions.  Once we come to that realization, then we will have victory!

We are all like the gunfighter…and can always start new!

Be Encouraged Today~

Tammy

*NIV Bible, personal graphics