There will only be one post this week because that cute face on the left is now a grown man, and he is getting married this week. I have a lot to do. Like finding Botox in a bottle and lipo in a box! As I mentioned in a blog post last week, Craig’s wedding means I have entered a new season of life. I look at that grinning face on the left and it really does seem like I took that picture a short time ago. Note to the young moms: When every older mom you know says, “They grow up so fast,” believe it. I know you think we have forgotten about chasing three year-olds everyday, pulling assorted objects out of their mouths, ears and noses. But when EVERY mom says the same thing, you can know it will happen to you too. Someday you will look at your children – graduating high-school, in the rear-view mirror as you leave them at college, or dressed for their wedding and you will say, “It happened so fast.” And a young woman will glance at you with a look that says, “Dementia…how sad.” But if someone asked me if I could go back in time and do it again, I would say “no.” No one can say they have lived with no regrets, unless they are not very thoughtful. But it is possible to live with few regrets. And that is the point of this blog. How do you hit the “big moments” in life, with few regrets?
1. Know the Bible and live what it teaches. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Think about the Bible as much as you do food. I have been dieting, trying to get ready for those wedding pictures. If I take my own advice, I will be thinking about the Bible a LOT this week!
2. Forgive. Jesus said, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). I should have done a lot better at this one. I’m from the Fried Green Tomatoes school of Towanda. If you know what that means, consider yourself “high-fived.” If you don’t know what that is, let me encourage you to read the book or rent the movie. Kathy Bates begins the movie as an oppressed woman with low self-esteem, who expects to be mistreated by other people. Later in the movie, when she is attempting to park her big blue Chevrolet, she is cut off by a convertible full of scornful young women. She shouts “towanda” as she proceeds to shove the convertible out of her parking place with her front bumper. Towanda would be the exact opposite of Matthew 6:14. Like I said, I live with “few” regrets. I’m working towards Matthew 6:14. I guess I should probably change the channel the next time I run across Fried Green Tomatoes! Moving on . . .
3. Live a genuine life. James said, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:18). There is a lot of plastic fruit out there among Christians. Plastic fruit looks better than the real stuff, but it doesn’t feed anyone. The fruit of the Spirit is, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. People can manufacture the plastic fruit, only God can make the real thing. Be filled with the Spirit and your life will have a genuine witness in the world.
4. Finally, be holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” You are a child of God, and your life should be different. Holy means “set apart.” You should be different than your non-Christian friends. You shouldn’t “act” better than – you should “be” better because of your spiritual DNA.
Craig has grown up to be a strong, man of God. He “walks the talk” and his dad and I are very proud of him. He is moving ahead in life and it will be fun to see what God has planned for he and Rachel. Have a great week. Live it with God and you will have few regrets. I’ll be back after the “I dos.”
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