Today's post was inspired by a sweet reader who left a comment a couple of weeks ago. She told a story about her early years and the bad advice a trusted source gave her on what type of job she should pursue. Her comment was she did not wish the source any ill will and was never rude to him (even when he might have deserved a good tongue lashing), but instead moved on and lived her life.
I have had a note in my possible blog topic page from a recent sermon I have been mulling over. The note-
FOCUSING ON THE PAST OR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Both of these are a definite sign this needs writing about.
I have personal experience with learning the difficult lesson on leaving those negative occurrences behind. When we become stuck in the ills of the past---we are going to sink deeper and deeper in the mire of negativity. Those life experiences can become the quick sand in time--keeping us stuck in something we cannot change. The more you stomp around in quick sand--the deeper you sink. We are not able to plan for the future as long as we are stuck in the past.
SO---what do we do with those life altering negatives? Consider them a short course in life and learn from them and move on with the gained knowledge from experience. We can fan the flames of hate and discord or we can choose to walk away from the fire and let the burns heal. The choice is always ours. My personal life experience---forgive--and do not harbor the event, but instead the knowledge gained. That old adage---"I forgive, but I do not forget" does not fly. As long as you are focused on the negative, it is controlling you and preventing forward motion. Why would we let another who has hurt us control our lives with the wasted time spent dwelling on the past?
You never know when I might take one of your comments and run with it. I am thankful for each and every response. They always make me think!
"Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;"
Isaiah 43:18-19a
A friend once said, “If you’re driving and keep your eyes on the rear view mirror , it’s certain you’ll wreck what’s ahead. That’s why the windshield is so big and the rest view so small.” Concentrating on regrets is like that too!
ReplyDeleteDwelling on the past and allowing it to fog our focus on the future is a lose-lose situation, Lulu, I agree. When we forgive, we just need to forget.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!