Hindsight 20/20 or a Total Blur?
I got up late today...shouldn't have been a big deal, but it sure seemed to cause a tumbling of things that threatened to throw my day off course. It's funny how a few minutes can make a big difference. "If she had hadn't messed around and just let the dog out first thing it wouldn't have peed in my floor!" "If I hadn't had that second cup of coffee I wouldn't have had to run around looking for the horses!" "If we had done this or that this wouldn't have happened!" "If"...IF-IF-IF. There can always be "if's".
The list of my "if's" for this morning could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. Fact is, we don't typically get do-overs and we honestly can not see the future. People have tried for years to predict and/or see the future, but there's really no way to forsee what each day will bring. The way we handle things is what really makes a difference and "haste makes waste". True that!
As frustration threatened to blow up in my face, I kept trying to turn my thoughts around. One thing at a time...I realized that's all I could handle; just one thing at a time. So that's what I did. Finally just putting one foot in front of the other and then realizing I needed to just stop. So I stopped. I stopped pushing that tumbling mess. I stopped trying futilely to right each wrong. I stopped telling God, "Just a minute." I sat down, put my hands over my ears so I couldn't hear anything but white noise, and I asked for Him to take it all from me.
Nothing I did yesterday can change what happened today. There isn't any precaution I could have taken last week, last month, last year or ten years ago that can change the outcome of today. Yes, if I wanted to torture myself, I might think of how things done differently before could've made today better or easier, but the fact still remains, it is over. The past is just that-past. There isn't a rewind button and frankly, I took that episode of The Twilight Zone to heart! Things may just turn out worse if wishing did work and we could go back and change the past to try and fix the future. Instead, I choose to try and learn from the past and move on with the future. I can do something about the rest of today, and tomorrow, and next week and even next year-Lord willing and the creek don't rise...but not what is behind me.
Once I stopped and "reset" my day, things started turning around instantly. It's amazing how that happens. My outlook became positive, my energy renewed. Tasks started ticking off and I got things done that I hadn't even planned to do. I even received a phone call that was like a huge shot in the arm and a promise that everything was going to be okay. It's a new day. I'm okay and I've picked myself up...with help, and am marching forward. I hope you are too. Let go of things you can't do anything about and focus on what you CAN do. Be positive. Be helpful, hopeful, joyful and thankful.
Sing with Zechariah. Luke 1:67-79. ..."Through the tender mercy of our God; Whereby the day. spring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."...
Jesus didn't just come to save us from our sins, He came to guide us through our days. To help us in everything. He's the most available help in any situation. That doesn't mean He's all smoke and mirrors waving a white stick and doing tricks that make everyone happy and all things perfect. He is the real deal. Learn to trust Him and let Him do His work in and through you-Today. He's the Pilot, just give Him the coordinates, He'll tell you which way to go, even take you there Himself, but either way, He won't leave you to do it all alone.
