Into the Fire

A year ago Christmas was very different for our family. Snow fell all day which was very unusual for our area. A white Christmas rarely comes our way.

This year the ground wore white but it was frost, and the sun shone all day from a bright blue sky.

The weather spoke of only a small part of the differences for our family . . .

The past always affects the present . . . one way or another. And oftentimes we choose how we allow it to affect us. Significant changes cause sadness or rejoicing in personal affairs, but we must make the decisions to keep propelling ourselves forward from shocking tragedies, sorrowful events, or severe losses. Not easy decisions to make for most of us.

We cannot revisit the past. It melds into our history either closely or creating distance. We cope or we delete or we ignore or we engage whatever it takes to keep going. Sometimes the elements of the distant past determine who we’ve become in the present, and sometimes we must let go of those elements to advance our emotional and spiritual maturity. Clinging to those things of the past which we’ve become accustomed to without inventorying their value will only produce more of the same and usually lead us to repeated disappointment or failure.

As we approach the end of another year, I wish you a clear vision of what the Lord has designed for you. If you follow Him, He will not lead you astray. Through the difficult, the impossible, the wonderful,and the astounding, Jesus is faithful, truthful, direct, forthright, and foolproof. He knows. Even when you don’t.

Follow Him. Use the past to advance the present. Remember this: Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

Father, lead me in your ways everlasting. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.