"Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this." ... Ecclesiastes 7:10
******
******
My friend, Ann, shared this page of 1970's clothes over at Facebook:
Oh wow. I went to high school in clothes like those and, well,:
I don't miss high school.
I don't miss the 1970's.
I don't miss the people I knew back then (except sometimes my grandparents).
I don't miss being a teenager or a young wife and mother of a baby.
I don't miss the good times from my past.
But gee, I miss those 1970's clothes.
And actually, to say (and mean) all that? That's huge for me.
See, at 16 I wrote in my journal, "I am forever homesick," because we'd moved from a church/school full of people who helped me, for the first time, feel valued, talented and appreciated. And now our new city was pretty oh hum, status-quo except that there I found a really, truly best friend. With Tara, Life became incredibly fun.
But then we moved again and I dreadfully missed her.
Yet in this new place, I told God that making friends during this senior year would probably be impossible, so instead, I would do whatever He asked me. And wow-- I had the best time, ever. Daily I walked around that town in a dream, stars of happiness dancing in my eyes.
But then-- yes. Again I moved, this time to college hundreds of miles away. Sorely I missed that tiny mountain town and again I scribbled in my journal, "I am forever homesick."
Yet summer came, I returned home and then my family moved away (yes, again). But this time my heart refused to leave. At 19 I'd had enough of moving every two years so I elected to stay and you know? Right away I met Tom and four months later we were married. Naomi soon joined us and we lived for 11 years in that land of warm, scented pine trees.
And finally, I stopped missing people and places. How wonderful to experience Life in the Present without craning my neck painfully backward toward the Past.
Eventually, here in New York, God did a final work. He took me apart and put me together again His way and--in His economy--He comes first (not people) and there is great contentment with fullness of joy.
Now I can live anywhere that He leads me. As long as I still have Him, I know everything will be all right.
Well, Him and the memories of those oh-so-cool 1970's clothes. :)
******
"But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." ... Genesis 19:26
God couldn't really use me those years when I looked back and concentrated upon what I'd lost. Perhaps He saw my usefulness as a sad ol' pillar of salt during those times, who knows?
"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence ..."...Psalm 16:11
******
Free Kindle Books:
False Identity
Running Home
Far Horizons
I Called Him Dancer
Elderberry Croft
Good post Debra! I must say, I don't miss anything from my past. It was mostly bad, until 1990 when I met my second husband Bob. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
ReplyDeleteOh Dolores! That's so sweet what you said about your husband. He must be one great guy--and he's blessed to have you, also! Thanks for commenting (and I'm glad you're not pining away for your past like many people are) :) ... Debra
ReplyDeleteDebra--you are a skilled writer, but you are an even better thinker. You are able to see underneath the veneer of life to not only see the seamy side, but to0 make life lessons from it. Keep it up, I enjoy reading it. Jay Orr
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us to take a look back, because it makes me realize how God has never left my side. There were times I got off track, but He was always there for me. Even though I don't want to live in the past, life back then taught me how to live in the present. Very good post, Debra. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteJay--thank-you so much! It delights me that a friend of my family for so many decades enjoys reading my blog. I often think it's rather funny the way God has enabled me to write about the tiniest things on the planet. :)
ReplyDeletePam--thanks! I like to take peeks back to the Past, but they're usually pretty quick ones. I have this weird thing about staying in the Present and learning moment by moment. But it's been one of those things where, when you find something that works, you stick with it. heh. Thanks again for commenting!
Blessings, Debra