December 20, 2019 – Click here to listen
I’ve had some wonderful times with friendships, businesses, churches, marriage, and nearly every aspect of my life and those are very happy memories. Unfortunately, I’ve had some very bad experiences along my way too. So much so in fact it will cloud all my good memories to the point of not even remembering them, IF, I allow it to do so.
I spoke with a friend not long ago and he was down on church. He had someone from a church act like a jerk to him and that is what comes to his mind when he thinks of church. I too have had some bad experiences in church at various times, but I’ve had some of the best times in my life covering a span of nearly 50 years. Should I allow all those terrific memories to be trashed by one or two morons?
I owned one very successful business and to this day it was the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I made more money in other businesses, but I had the most fun by far in this one and it yielded plenty enough money to meet all of my needs. After about seven years of great fun I had some employees embezzle nearly one million dollars and it was all I could do to survive for several years. Now whenever I think of that business would you think I dwell on all the seven years of great memories made there, or do I focus on the embezzlement? I used to bitterly think of nothing but that mess, but today I choose to focus on the great memories made there and try to block the negative completely out of it.
Every marriage is marred at some point by strife. I have friends who dwell on a harsh word or some other affront said in the heat of battle and that’s it. From that moment on it is all they think about. They fail to remember all of the years of good times and love that occurred. I recently convinced a friend of mine to go back to his wife after having left her seven years earlier over such a nothing event that it almost seemed silly to him, (and me), when he told me why he left. I urged him to think of all the good times they had together and the love they enjoyed raising their family together. He looked at me and said, “She is a good woman and I do still love her.” I told him to get his tail back over there and make amends. (And he did!). He called me yesterday and was picking up his grown daughter at the airport and his son was driving in for Christmas. He sent me photos of all the decorations all over his house. He was happy as a lark because this is the first time his family has celebrated Christmas TOGETHER in a very long time. Quite the difference not just for him but his entire family. He left his little one-bedroom condo and the loneliness at Christmas that he had been enduring for making more good memories, hopefully for the rest of their lives.
Frank Sinatra belted out these lyrics: “Regrets, I’ve got a few, but then again too few to mention.” Let go of the regrets and focus on the good times and see how it will put a smile on your face during this special season of celebrating the birth of Christ. I came up to Honey Lake to do a little hunting. I looked at the massive resort I built and the beautiful home overlooking Honey Lake that I lived in for so many years and a twinge of seller’s remorse began creeping in on me. Then I thought of all of the good memories made here and how much I enjoyed this place and I thought now I’ve moved to Jupiter Florida and already am embarked on making new ones in that beautiful place. I smiled.
Nice try Satan, but I for one refuse to go down the path of regrets. I’m simply too busy making good memories to allow negativity into my mind.
What does the Bible say about regret? The Bible refers to regret as a way for Satan to get inside you mentally. Regret can be devastating if we don’t keep it in check. I urge you to live with no regrets. God will keep you plenty occupied with a happy heart if you will trust Him.
Ecclesiastes 5:20
They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!