Should have. Could have. Would have.
Whatever it may be, it’s all in the past now.
We Humans are pretty messed up.
We hold onto things forever.
She called me Fat. He never calls. She still owes me money.
He completely ignored me. She didn’t bother saying goodbye.
They said they don’t need my help.
I can only imagine how ridiculous we must look.
I actually think I may know?..
You see, I have this teddy bear.
<– SO ADORABLE!!
It’s really old. But it means a lot to me! My older sister sent it to me overseas when she had been deployed. (It used to be holding a heart that said “Sisters are Forever”, but.. well.. it’s old.)
Point is I sleep with it every night and well, take it with me everywhere (if I’m staying overnight that is).
It’s old, it isn’t really helping me sleep in any way, but I’m just so used it that I can’t.. I won’t get rid of it.
Similar to how we hold on to things, regrets. They’re ridiculously old. Aren’t useful and make us look quite silly (of course I don’t look silly with my bearsy
)
I met a woman once, who was a cancer surviver. Now I apologize if anyone is offended by what I am about to say, but although this woman had defeated this disease, she behaved in a manner that sent a completely different message. At least once a day she would glorify this disease by showing us her “balding” pictures, hospital pictures and share with us a story or two of her experiences during that time.
She held onto this cancer, this sickness as if she were still going through it.
Almost as if she regretted it being over.
Afraid to let go.
We need to let go.
Let go of the past. Of regrets. Of anything that is not only reminding us of what once was (say that 3 times fast) but is keeping us from growing.
My mother gave me one of the best illustrations of this. One spring as she began pruning her rose bushes, I asked her:
“Why are you doing that to the flowers?”
Apparently, plants need to be pruned (meaning, all of the old, dead stuff is taken off) in order for new leaves, and flowers to bloom.
Now.. here’s the cool part of it all!
Some gardeners crush the dead leaves and mix them within the soil.
This is supposed to help the plant grow healthier, by giving it more nutrients.
How amazing is that!
Even while letting go of these Regrets, these burdens.. Even while crushing them up and throwing them into the dirt..
They can still help us grow.
With that said, let it be known that on November 15th, 2013. All my past regrets, burdens and diseases have been now crushed and mixed within the soil,
bringing with them the Death of Remorse.
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”
-2 Corinthians 7:10
