Lessons Learned

Have you ever wished that you had a “magic ball” and could see the “rest of the story?” There are times when I wish I knew in advance what was going to happen, what others were thinking, and how things were going to turn out. Knowing in advance would keep me from making unwise decisions. I’d know who I could trust. I’d know who my real friends were. I’d be prepared for whatever life throws at me. Then, I got to thinking about what I’d miss, if I knew the future.

If I knew what others were thinking, I’d lose my trust in the goodness of my fellow man. I guess you can call me gullible, but I truly believe that most people are good, honest, and trustworthy. When I’m proven wrong, well, I “bless their hearts” and pray for them. How sad to try to cheat others – they must be pitiful indeed. If I knew what consequences would come from the decisions that I make, it may save me in the short term, but I’d miss out on learning those hard lessons which will keep me from making the same unwise decisions in the future. For that’s how you gain wisdom – you get your hands slapped and learn the hard way. It is how we handle and learn from difficult situations that teaches us our greatest lessons.

We think that if we knew what the future holds, that we’d “do things differently.” If we knew that death was imminent, we’d “straighten up and fly right.” But, Friends, we are told to, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42.) We have to be living our lives in such a way that no matter when the Lord returns for us, we’ll be ready. We must not hold grudges, but be willing to forgive. We must be actively worshiping correctly, for “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). We must follow the “golden rule” which says, ” Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12a).

Are you living your life here on earth in such a way that it really doesn’t matter what life “throws at you?” You not only know “who you are,” but most importantly, you know “Whose you are.” God is good. Oh, how we are simply blessed, Courtney