Posts tagged christianity
For many of us,
this year was like a shotgun blast to the chest.
Young lives came to an abrupt end. Relationships we’d fought long and hard for had reached their boiling points. Jobs we’d broken our backs for showed little gratitude for our efforts. While others were posting Instagram photos of their perfect relationships, delicious food, and posh lifestyle, our income trudged miserably towards debt.
I like ending blogs with a quote. Something that neatly ties together all the sporadic musings I’ve pedantically scribbled across my digital notepad.
But sometimes I’ll find a passage—a cluster of calculated paragraphs that simply cannot be condensed into a cute, bite-sized “Tumblr quote.” Its words so precise, so potent, so packed with meaning, that to add any additional commentary would only pollute its author’s intent.
Five years ago, I stumbled upon one such passage. Its words marked the first day of the rest of my life…
Designed by Brother Teresa
Designed by Brother Teresa
No Regrets
- M: Personally, I don't have any regrets.
- B: Really?
- M: For sure. Without all my mistakes, I wouldn't be who I am today.
- B: Because who you are today is perfect?
- M: C'mon. You know what I mean.
- B: Of course I do. You're saying you have no idea what 'regret' means. To regret is to feel ashamed of something; to have remorse and seek repentance. In other words, 'Regret' is one of the reasons you ARE who you are today.
- M: Never thought of it that way.
- B: I mean.. having "no regrets" sounds cute on some teenage girl's myspace profile, but if that were really true, you'd still be the same person you were ten years ago. Regret, remorse, guilt — these are the things that push us towards change.
- M: That's true. But sometimes regrets can be SO paralyzing.
- B: Oh, definitely. Especially if we dwell on something instead of changing something. But that has more to do with us than the feeling itself. Ultimately, regret is supposed to push us towards things like humility, forgiveness, grace, and gratitude.
- M: That would explain why I'm much nicer to my parents now.
- B: What do you mean?
- M: When I was a kid, I used to argue with them all the time. Now that I have my own kids, I can finally see why they used to nag me so much. They did stuff for me that I was too young and naive to understand. Now, whenever I see them, I just give them these MASSIVE hugs.
- B: That's what I'm talking 'bout, lil' lady.
- M: Hmm. So what about you then? Any regrets?
- B: Of course not. Regrets are for people who make mistakes.
- M: I hate you.
Wooden’s Wisdom
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because character is what you really are, reputation is merely what others think you are.
Don’t measure yourself by what you’ve accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
My father gave me a two-dollar bill for my grade-school graduation and said, “Hold on to this and you’ll never be broke.” I still have it. A lot of times, that’s all I’ve had. But I’ve never been broke.
Don’t spend so much time chasing what’s been taken from you that you fail to see what’s been given.
