TAMAR: From estranged wife to Jesus' ancestor

The story of Tamar came to light as a result of Judah's failings in Genesis chapter thirty eight. These series of events took place after Joseph had already been sold to the Ishmaelites by his envious brothers, after which Judah left his family and for an infamous adventure to the land of Canaan.
It was in Canaan that Judah met a damsel that caught his eye named Shuah. He went into intimate relationship with her against the customs of the Hebrews. His relationship with Shuah produced three sons Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah took a wife for Er named Tamar. Er was killed by God as a result of his wickedness (i wonder what he did), and as the custom of the day was Onan, Judah's second son was the next in line to inherit Tamar so she could bare children for Er. Not finding the idea beneficial to him, Onan intentionally refuses to do the needful when he went into intimate relationship with Tamar. God considered Onan's act as wickedness and as a result he had to be slain. After Onan's death, it was ideal for Judah to give Tamar to his last son Shelah as an inheritance, instead he sent her back to her people with the excuse that he (Shelah) was still a stripling and needed to grow up. Tamar discovers Judah's ruse in the process of time and decides to take extreme measures so as not to live in shame as she would die a widow except a man from Judah's family marries her. The plot was to pay Judah back in his own coin by beguiling him. Tamar knew that Judah's Achilles heel was women and if she could feign herself as a harlot and sit in a place where Judah would pass, he will definitely be attracted to her. Her plan worked as on seeing her He (Judah) immediately went to meet her asking her for an intimate relationship. As wise as Tamar was she asked Judah what her fee would be. After Judah stated her fee she made an extra request which eventually turned out to be evidences she used against Judah after he had intimate relationship with her and she became pregnant.
When the news of Tamar's strange pregnancy came to Judah, he ordered for her execution, as it is considered abomination for a widow to be with child for a man from a family she was not married into. When she was brought forth she displayed the items she subtly collected from Judah which included his signet, his bracelet, and his staff, things he could not deny were his. These evidences made Judah realize his unrighteousness making him take responsibility for the pregnancy.
After these events, Tamar gave birth to twins, Pharez and Zarah who were given these names because their births came in the most amazingly controversial ways. Pharez means "breach", while  Zarah means "rising''.
Zarah's descendants are called Zarhites, Ezrahites, and Izrahites and that of Pharez are the Hezronites and the Hamulites. Pharez became the ancestor of King David who was the ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. All this put Tamar into the genealogy of Jesus (see Matthew chapter one), a woman with a "messed up life".
Why am I bringing this up, why would God allow His only begotten Son to come into the world through the lineage of a woman with such a "messed up life" as Tamar's? this is a clear work of Grace to show God's unmerited favour. No matter how messed up your life may be right now, He can still calibrate it to suit his plans. He is not like man that condemns and judges unjustly. so if you feel your life is messed up beyond repair, think of Tamar. You might just be the light that will spring forth from your lineage.