Let go of guilt and regrets, give them over to God
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth …”
— Matthew 8:12 (NIV)
My son handed me the cast-iron plaques that used to hang on his bedroom wall when he was young. I glanced at the spots where the paint had chipped off and noticed how the color had become dull over time.
“I thought Jeff could paint these for us to hang in Vic's room,” my son suggested.
It seemed like only yesterday when I wallpapered his bedroom with a print of baseballs, footballs and soccer balls.
These once vibrant colored plaques of football figurines hung over his bed. He was requesting my husband refurbish them so they could be proudly displayed in his son's room.
Pondering this thoughtful act to hand down something that was so memorable, made me wander back to the time the kids were little. I thought about the many good times that passed down good memories, but I also considered a few regrets.
My heart ached when I thought about the times I was too busy and impatient with the boys roughhousing, rather than joining in the fun on occasion.
Regrets — we all experience them. Some of our regrets are great, others are minor. All of them are painful. Jesus explained our hearts cry regarding regrets when he described our greatest regret would bring, “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The start of a new year is a great time to lift our regrets to God so they don't tarnish our future.
By letting go of the regrets of our past, we can receive a brand-new outlook for God's plan for our present and future. We become more creative and have clearer direction when our mind is void of past mistakes.
By releasing our old thoughts to God and striving to change our attitude, he can turn our mistakes into miracles.
• Annettee Budzban is a local Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.