I was thinking this morning about regrets. I wasn’t in the middle of my jog having a conversation with myself – “Jerry, what are your regrets?” It stemmed from an episode of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. I watched another rerun last night and regrets was the subject, all because 25 years ago, Ray didn’t walk his date to the door when it was snowing outside – he was concerned about his car. That’s not the point, but it starts the conversation. What are some of your regrets? I’ll have to categorize some of mine:
Early Years
- Sending my brother to Prince’s house (only the biggest German Shepherd known to man), resulting in him getting bit by that dog
- Lying to my dad about “learning my lesson” so that I could get off restriction early
- Coming home early from spend-the-night parties with my best friend (right after The Incredible Hulk finished)
High School
- Not sticking with soccer – decided a job was more important
- Not applying for scholarships
- Not really learning how to study
College
- Not marching in the band during football season
- Messing around too much my first three years of college – led to another 4 years to follow
- Selling my ’69 VW Bug for tuition
- How I treated my neighbor who was certifiably crazy
I’m sure there are other regrets, but those are the ones that come to mind right now. I’ve married my best friend. We have a great daughter and another child on the way. I love my work and the people who God’s put in my path. There are times, though, that I look back on my life and say, “I wish I had that this way.” I was reading in Luke this morning and came across a passage I’ve read many times. It was the account of Peter denying knowing Jesus three times in the courtyard outside the house of the high priest. Read this account:
And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:55-62, ESV)
Can you imagine? I know Jesus restored Peter later on after His resurrection, but this was a pretty big deal. You know that Peter lived with this REGRET for a long time. Denying knowing Jesus that third time and hearing the rooster crow would have probably been enough, but Luke says that the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Wow! Have you been there? Have you talked about someone behind their back to have him or her round the corner and hear everything you’ve just said? Not pretty. Thankfully though, Jesus did restore Peter and forgave him. Jesus forgives us and restores us, too. There is no need to live with regrets. Acknowledge your shortcomings and then move on. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we’ll work towards living that life of no regret.
Blessings!
