“It doesn’t matter what is behind you as much as it matters who is beside you.”
~ Ellen ~
“Laced with Grace”
There are several things in my life that I have done, that I am not proud of. While growing up I had parents that set the parameters of what was allowed and acceptable. And while living under their roof I was expected to follow those parameters. Then I went to college.
College was the best of times, and in some ways the worst of times. I chose not to stay within the parameters my parents taught me. I thought they were stifling me with these rules. So I chose to live life my way. I did not want anyone telling me what was right or wrong, when to be in and at what time, don’t drink, etc… I guess some part of me wanted to “live the secular life” after being raised in a wonderful Christian home, with wonderful parents. Isn’t it amazing how we never know how good we have it until we “mature”. And for some of us that maturity takes many years.
The best of times in college is meeting my future husband. We were friends first, but after knowing each other for a year we began to date. And together we made some poor decisions where the the Lord had to intervene in a mighty way.
Some of my poor decision making in college had lasting and life altering consequences. When I finally confessed my sins to the Lord, then to my parents, and to my “future husband”. What I got was “Ok, we love you and we will go forward through this”. There was no condemnation from the ones who loved me, no one left me when I was at my lowest.
I have now been married for thirteen years to my college sweetheart. Life has not been easy, we have made some mistakes, we have hurt each other at different times, but the most important thing is that we have never left each others side.
I can get caught up with the “what if’s” of my mistakes in life, I can look back and see where the Lord had to come and rescue me. All those times I messed up, I knew better. But instead I have found that looking back serves no purpose. God forgives and forgets. What matters is the people who have walked beside me through the good and bad times. I feel if I have the support of my family and my husband right beside me every step of the way, then I can survive anything.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Love covers everything - doesn’t it? You know - reading through your post it reminded me of 1 Corinthians 13 - the ‘love chapter’. Christ’s love for is pure and will see us through everything.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this week’s quote.
“But instead I have found that looking back serves no purpose.”
And I need to be reminded time again that looking back serves no purpose. Thank you for the reminder.
Being in the field of Psychology, I do believe that looking back has a purpose. However, I believe we have to look back as God would look back. There are many twists and turns in our lives, all purposefully planned by God. When we stumble it is because He has allowed us to stumble…when we are arrogant and prideful, it is because it is a part of His bigger plan for our lives. We are not perfect, God made us that way so we will look toward Him, so we will look beside us for Him and so we can look behind for Him. I really enjoyed your post on this quote. It allows us to admit that yep, I have made mistakes, everyone makes mistakes…but Love embraces and forgives a multitude of sins…thank God and thank our families for loving us as they do.
Amen. And thanks be to God that he has a no-term memory when we ask for forgiveness.
I figure if the entire Bible hinges on the concept of GRACE, then how much more so should I apply it in my life???
Thank you Lord for your grace!
FWIW, I made alot of mistakes too Laurel…alot….
Beautiful post! I’m so glad that God blesses us with people who will be there with us through the hard times!
Amen sister!!!
I agree with you totally.
I have made A LOT of mistakes too, I think we all have. Thank God that he does forgive and FORGET!
Thanks for all your support through Grayson’s surgery.
XXOO
I love your take on this weeks qoute. Great reminders for me today!
You won’t find many of us out here who can look at our pasts and say we have no regrets. All of us do.
I agree with you that you can get through anything when your family stands by you. And when you have a good husband and a good marriage, the past and any mistakes you made are probably one of the reasons that marriage is as strong as it is now.
Good for you for not dwelling on past mistakes but appreciating your life now and looking forward to your future.
I understand this a lot. Thanks for being honest in your post. Love really is a wonderful covering, as Iris mentioned!
There was no condemnation from the ones who loved me, no one left me when I was at my lowest.
That’s so beautiful! I love hearing about things like that.
Camy
This makes me think of the one that goes ahead of me- The LORD.
Deut. 1:30-
“The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.”
We all have our own Egypt. I am glad He releases us from it, and prepares the freedom for us ahead of time. What a comfort to know He goes before me into every situation, not just beside me. :>)
The support and love of family is a treasure to be cherished. How awesome of your parents to react like that! I pray that I can be that kind of a parent.
Oh boy do I know what life you lived in college. I did the same thing. Maturity definitely helped me come to realize the mistakes I had made and how it is so much better to have God there by my side, along with family and friends. Good take on today’s quote!
You’re right, it means alot to have people we love and who love us who are willing to stand by our side.
It sounds like you have wonderful family and friends like I have!
God bless you as you walk forward.
Sunydazy