P.S.
“Through Christ, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God” (Heb. 13:15).

In those days when people still wrote letters, they often would attach a post script (P.S.) after their signature, usually indicative of a final thought or sometimes a forgotten thought that the writer wanted to convey. While we don’t commonly use post scripts anymore, we all have had the experience of wanting to add one more thought to a conversation, perhaps recalling a particular fact the next day. Sometimes our best ideas come later, after we have slept on a stimulating conversation. We sometimes awaken to the perfect idea after we have exhausted less-appealing alternatives.

We also may have had post-script revelations in ministry. There are words we wish we had said, comments we wish we had made. There are times when we say, “If only I had had more time.”

The truth is, a great deal of our lives are lived in post scripts. We live in the realm of coulda-shoulda-woulda. We so often make the best choices after we have made wrong choices. We often find the perfect job only after we have worked in the wrong occupation for years. Sometimes the best we have to give is ahead of us, not behind us.

I like to think the gospel of Christ is a kind of post script. We can make our choices, go about living our lives, doing everything our way; but at the end of the day God says, “P.S.—even though you failed, I still love you and have redeemed you. Carry this grace with you the rest of your life.”

As we work with teenagers specifically, it is important to remember these young people have not yet written the post scripts for their lives. We can help them see that God provides the meaning and context for their lives. Grace is the post script.