If you could start over? Well you can.

I just finished reading my devotion this morning. Today is New Year's Eve and one of the passages talked about regrets. Of course I have regrets. I haven't been as kind to my husband as I should have. I said hurtful words to those I love. I have been intolerant, impatient, selfish. Yesterday, my lesson for the youth was on Paul and his race to the finish. Paul was not a perfect man. He had regrets from his past, but he said for us to keep our eyes looking ahead and to stop turning around dwelling on the past. Think about it. I ran track. I ran the 220, 440 relay and 100 yard dash. I can't imagine trying to run my best time while spinning my head around to look behind me. I would have fallen. Such is life. When I keep looking back at what has been bothering me, what has been wrong, mistakes I have made or others have done to me....I am losing sight of the miracles and blessings ahead of me. I must keep my focus on God's finish line and not mine. So today, if you are a reflecting person, you know I am, go ahead and claim your past junk...wrap it up in a tight ball...and give it a fast ball pitch to forgiveness land. Write down three things you would like to improve upon YOURSELF, NOT ANYONE ELSE. Now settle down in the starting block. Get comfortable. Shake out those butterflies in your legs and chest. Breathe a prayer of strength, courage, endurance and hope. Lean down tight. Flex those muscles you've let go weak. AND.....lift your eyes upward, onward, looking at what you need to become, where you need to go and take off. Keep running until...... If you stumble? Get back in that starting block and refocus your take off. If you are running for the right race, you must keep training. Happy New Year!!!!!