One day when we had a bad snowstorm, my late husband and I decided to do some spring cleaning in our attic. In the course of our project, I ran across a box of old long-playing albums.
As I sorted through the record collection, reminiscing about “the good ole days,” (which really weren’t all that good) the thought occurred to me that I could no longer listen to these old records. We had replaced our outdated stereo sets and tape players with CD’s and digital channels long ago. My, how times have changed. This brings to mind a thought that I want to share with you.
Living in the past is “iffy.” Valuable time is wasted repeating over and over again.
Some people need to get a new record collection. They have been playing those long-playing albums (LPs) far too long. Too many folks are living in the past listening to old records.
Time is stolen from enjoying present happiness, and we paralyze our future by replaying, reviewing, and rewinding past history. But, in order to do this, we are going to need a new “set” – a new mindset.
We need to “rethink” our past, eliminate our fears, and embrace our future.
When I say, “rethink,” what I’m saying is revisit, kiss it goodbye, and move on.
Living in the past is “iffy.” Valuable time is wasted repeating over and over again: “If I had done this or that, things would be different.”
Yes, it is true, things would have been different. But you didn’t do it differently, and thinking about it now can’t change what happened then. Your past, no matter how tragic or terrible, is gone. You can never reach back into it and change it. Even the wonderful parts of your past are gone.
So stop wasting time and energy trying to relive the past. God never goes back, though He is the only one who can. He goes forward. He is always looking ahead and moving beyond the present.
Friends, it’s time to get a new record collection.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Mary Edwards is a columnist of TheHUB and the founder of Widows with Wisdom, which promotes hope and healing among women who have lost a loved one. Learn more about her organization at: widowswithwisdom.org
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