In keeping along with the "Remember" theme......
As we have all shared out thoughts, testimonies and experiences these last few months I have been thinking a lot about "change". We have all shared about challenges that we have overcome, turning points in our lives, motivation to do better and even a friendly contest to "change" our health (P90X).
I read a talk from Jeffrey R. Holland that I want to summarize and also add to. Please know this is sent with love and that I felt touched to share with all of you. Please take the parts that might strike a chord within you and use it to motivate and move forward.
The second shortest verse in the scriptures is in Luke 17:32, where the Savior cautions"Remember Lot's Wife". What does this mean? This story comes from the days of Sodom and Gomorrah when the people were very wicked. The Lord told Lot and his family to flee Sodom and Gomorrah, "Escape for thy life" and "look not behind thee". Lot's family left just in the nick of time as the city was being destroyed by fire and brimstone. Even thought the Lord counseled them to flee and not to look back, Lot's wife "looked back" and was turned to a pillar of salt. I don't want to focus on the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah but want to focus on "looking back" and "pressing forward".
Lot's wife looked back. Her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. Faith is always pointed toward the future. Lot's wife did not have faith. She doubted the Lord's ability (and her ability) to give her something better than she had. She thought that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments that she was leaving behind.
God doesn't care nearly as much where you have been, as he does about where you are, and with His help, where you are willing to go.
REMEMBER LOT"S WIFE
Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there.
We all have moments in our life that we regret or wished we had a "mulligan" or a do over. We have all gone though different changes in life. We also all are looking to improve in different ways wether improving in our health, our talents/skills, our careers, our families, our relationships, our spirituality, overcoming habits or addictions etc. We can look forward and not look back. We do need to learn from the past as to not repeat these things that didn't work for us but more importantly we need to look forward with faith. We can have happiness and fullness in our lives.
There may be things that we need to go through the steps to let go of and move on from them so they don't hold us back. When honest effort is being made to progress, we are guilty of the greater sin if we keep remembering and recalling and rebashing someone with their earlier mistakes (and that someone may be ourselves). We can be so hard on ourselves! Remember just enough to avoid repeating but then put it to rest. Fix those things that may need fixing.
We all have so much potential, so much greatness and deserve all the joy and happiness in this world and beyond. I am amazed at the strength, love, talent, uniqueness and goodness in each one of you!
It doesn't matter as much where we have been but more so where we are and where we are willing to go.
Does our attachment to the past outweigh our confidence in the future?
REMEMBER Lot's wife
Look not behind thee but press forward and move ahead!
I love you all and am so proud of each one of you and am grateful for WHO you each are and what you contribute to this world and especially to our family!
Life is too short! Live each moment to the fullest. Live fully, love deeply and laugh often.
Don't let yesterday use up too much of today!
The past is a guidepost, not a hitching post!
I love you all! Have a wonderful day!
Love, Deidi
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