Heart to Heart

Gentle reader,
Late in his life, the great stage and screen actor, John Barrymore, was quoted as saying, "You can tell you're old when regrets take the place of your dreams."

I realize regret is commonly encountered by people in the world—especially in the second half of life. But it shouldn't be that way for God's people. It certainly doesn't have to be.

I was reminded of that in a powerful way by something I read the other day. It made a powerful impression on me and, here at the beginning of a brand new year, I sense a leading to share it with you today.

A Pointed Question

I recently came across a moving story shared by a Christian man who was well-into his 60s. His name is Jim.

Last December 30th, Jim's mother passed away and went to be with the Lord. She was 93. As Jim tells it, right up until the day she passed away, her mind was clear. Until just a few months earlier, she had been active—doing sit ups and push ups to stay in shape. She sounds like a phenomenal lady.

About a week before her passing, Jim was sitting with her in the hospital and decided to ask her a pointed question. The kind of question a wise man asks when he knows his opportunities for asking are few and precious.

"Mama, do you have any regrets?"

Now, I know that if someone asked me that question today, I would have to say, "You'd better get out your note pad. And make sure that pen has plenty of ink!"

I suspect that most of us could think of many words it would have been better to have left unsaid. And many forks in the road at which we made a poor choice.

How did Jim's mother answer that question as she looked back across 93 years of living? She said, "Yeah, Jimmy. I do."

Jim said he braced himself for her answer. Was there a broken relationship that never got mended? A fateful choice that altered the course of her life?

"What is it, Mama?"

She said, "Well, I made a commitment to the Lord to read through the Bible this year, and I'm not going to get to finish. I know that now."

Finished Business

Jim asked his mother how far she had gotten (fearing that if she had only read to the Psalms or to Isaiah, there wouldn't be enough time to help her keep her commitment.)

She said, "I lack First, Second, and Third John, Jude, and Revelation." She had only four tiny epistles and Revelation's 32 chapters standing between her and a holy promise kept.

Jim said, "Well, I think we can get through that." So he got out his Bible, settled into the bedside chair, and began to read. John's letters and Jude were finished in short order.

Then, over the next few days, they began to move through the book of Revelation. As they read, they talked about heaven; about the worship that will take place around God's throne; and about the Lamb that was worthy to open the seals.

Then one day, they came to these words:

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost...He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:17,21,22)

With those glorious closing words of Revelation, a final regret was eliminated.

Just a couple of mornings later, the nurse came in and asked Jim's mom if she would like some breakfast. She ate a little toast and took a sip of coffee. She put her head back on her pillow. Then the Master whom she loved and for whom she'd lived, called her home.

May you and I live with such God-honoring priorities. And when our races are finished, may we pass with such grace.

Your Year of No Regrets

I share this wonderful story for two reasons. First, I want to encourage you to enter this new year with a prayerful resolve to live this year, and the ones that follow, in such a way as to not allow regrets to replace your dreams.

Of course, the biggest source of regrets on earth involves relationships.

That's why we will be here for you in the coming months to help you strengthen your most important relationships. Karen and I will be using every medium at our disposal to help you make your marriage better and more fulfilling; to bring you keys for raising emotionally and spiritually healthy children; for succeeding in literally every area of your family life!

That brings me to the second reason I shared Jim's story...

Our Common Privilege

What a privilege Jim was given. To help someone he loved pass from this life without regrets. No unfinished business. No un-kept promises.

You and I have just as great a privilege, however. We have the opportunity to keep people from having one of the most devastating regrets of all — a shattered home.




Denis