It only takes a single moment to change the course of a life. One bad decision can put you on a path you never planned to take. One rash moment can start a feud between families that lasts for generations to come. A single shot fired can start a war that changes the course of nations and history.

We recently watched a movie in which a single moment changed the course of two families forever. Teenager Sarah was babysitting her neighbors' children, two pre-teen boys and a one-year-old baby girl. As Sarah played with the little girl in her walker, the boys started fighting over the TV remote. While Sarah was breaking up their fight, the baby's kicking feet pushed the walker backwards into another room and through the open basement door, where she plunged down the stairs to her death.

At that moment, normal life ended for these two families. The grieving Mom retreated from life, hiding in her home studio where she immersed herself in furniture restoration. Her husband and sons were forced to go on with life without her, yet gently continued to coax her to join them.

Sarah graduated from high school and left immediately, running away from her family and boyfriend to hide in a large city. She carried with her a heavy load of guilt, blame and unforgiveness, and expected to someday be punished for the baby's death. That day came six years later when she sat in a doctor's office and heard the words, “You have leukemia.”

Sarah returned home but did not tell her family the devastating news. She tried a number of times to reach out to the grieving Mom who was stuck in that moment of tragedy, but was pushed away each time. The mother had been making progress, but started to regress. Sarah brought her a dilapidated antique box and asked her to restore it, but at first she refused.

In the meantime, Sarah's ex-boyfriend offered to restore her car that had been in an accident while also working at restoring their relationship. Eventually the grieving Mom found out about Sarah's illness, forgave her, and convinced her to tell her parents. The grieving Mom was finally able to move on with life and helped Sarah's mother cope with the news.

This was a beautiful story of healing and restoration, in which each of the relationships that had been destroyed because of a single moment of tragedy were restored. Sarah was able to receive forgiveness and forgave herself, and went on to receive treatment for her illness.

At the beginning of time, a single moment of biting into a forbidden fruit changed the course for all humanity. Adam and Eve's decision to disobey God ushered in the sin that would separate all mankind from God. But God had a plan in place to bring restoration and healing - John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected for our redemption. It only takes a moment to change the course of our lives for all eternity. As we ask God to forgive our sins and invite Jesus to be the Lord of our lives, we will receive the restoration and healing that only He can give.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 482-5300.