I got this idea from a good friend of mine and a blog that he posted earlier. I would like to do an experiment. I find that we like to focus in our lives on what we don't have, wish we did have, or feel we should have; instead of what we do have in our lives. I'm sure you've probably some time during your life had a "list" of things you wanted to do before you died. If you were to walk into the Dr's this morning for test and he was to come back into the waiting room and tell you that you only had 24 more hours to live. Would you look at all the things in your life you didn't get to do? Would there be regrets from that incomplete list? -- there are several places I could go with this on living with regrets.
However, I would like to take a different look at this situation. Instead of focusing on what you "wouldn't get to do;" let's focus on what you did get to do. Take some time, think about it, and make a list of all the things you have experienced in life so far. And for those of you who have a first reaction -- like I did -- that you have not accomplished anything in your life, I'm here to tell you, that's a total lie!!!! You have done things in your life that no one else in this list has done. You have experienced things in your life that you probably have not thought about in a long time. I can assure you, you have had accomplishments in your life. For some, it may be having children, some it may be traveling, some it may be works of art, some it may be experiencing the sunrise on the beach, some it may be meeting famous people, some it may be sitting in your grandmother's lap while she read you stories... there are so many things you have done in your life already.
Go ahead, using the comments section, and list out the things you have already accomplished/experienced in your life already. Be encouraged that you already have already been blessed by God in numerous experiences that have touched yours and others lives. I am sure as you do this, it will bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart! John 10:10 states that He has come to give us an abundant life. (para)
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I have driven a car from San Francisco, California all the way to Jacksonville, North Carolina with my son in the back seat as my co-pilot (he was only 6 years old). I went to Mexico, just across the California border, we walked across the famous overpass with immigration directly under us (very scary) and quite sad the poverty. I met and had dinner with Mayor Mamereto from Kira Town Uganda last year while he was visiting the United States, and he personally brought me a gift, a small purse that was hand made by the women in his country (remind me and I will bring it in to show you). I have had the complete joy of having 2 babies, a true gift from God. I never thought growing up in a small mid-western town that I would ever go to Disneyland, well I not only went to Disneyland twice but to Disneyworld once and the San Diego Zoo as well. What a wonderful life I'm having and I hope you have a great day.
I have graduated high school and college with a degree
I have had 2 beautiful children
I have been married for nearly 11 years
I have helped a friend on a mission trip
I have helped a stranded person who needed a ride
I have helped cloth people in need (not less fortunate, less fortunate than who?)
I have sponsored an exchange student
I have given to many charities (money and time)
I have been a mother, friend, sister, daughter, cousin and wife
I have been white water rafting
I have seen dinosaur tracks and have the pics. to prove it
I have been on a cruise to the Carribean
I have looked to the skies for hours
I have given blood to try and help save a little boy from a deadly blood disease
I have taught Sunday children church
I have helped strangers do yard work
Great idea Charlie. Good luck with your list.
I've sat at a coffee bar in Amsterdam and wondered why there were water pipes on the table. It wasn't coffee that they sold
I've been through two hurricane evacuations. I've spent a night in jail. I've held my mother's hand as she lay in ICU after a near fatal car accident. I've hugged my mom, and my dad, in public without embarassment. I've eaten way too much chocolate. I've thrown myself wholeheartedly into a task and failed. I've cooked for the President of the United States. I've met famous people and didn't realize it until they were gone. I've developed friendships with people of different races, from other nations, and with different political beliefs. I've had a copy of one album on 8-track, vinyl, cassette, and CD. I've eaten a mufalaata in Jackson square. I've eaten the finest caviar and I've eaten meals provided by the Red Cross during disaster relief efforts. I've driven a convertible with the top down on an absolutely gorgeous summer night.
Where to begin, I have done so many things in my lifetime so far but none of the simply things that I go everyday that some people take for granted can be listed. However, I have stayed in Puerto Rico for 2 days, exploring and looking at the different aspects of how life is there comparing to my life here. I have talked to a lillte old lady in Antiga trying to make her understand my orgin. That was really something. I have been blessed to have someone's organ transplanted in my body to continue my life to go on. Without it, I could not share that experience to others that are facing the same ordel I had to endure but this blessing came to me so that I can tell others that God can do anything and I continue to do that whenever I can. I have had to deal with losing a mother and grandmother in the same year but yet God gave me this incredible gift of holding it all together so that I can share with someone who has lost a loved one that as long as they were in Christ, you will see them again.
I have been given the gift from God of sharing and caring for others. This quality has allowed me to help so many in need of finances, material items, a ear to listen to and not let it go any further.
I listen to music all the time. I love to talk to people from all walks of life. I have wathced my mother take her last breath in this life. For the first time in my life, I went to a Professional Basketball game. What a thrill. It was better than going to my first professional baseball game. I have driving over 8 hours(one way) to a freind funeral that only last 1 hour. I have went to Bishop Eddie Long's church and it was amazing to see sho many people praising the Lord at one service. Over 10,000 at one service, that was exciting to me coming from a small church. My continue service to my fellow mankind will forever be what Christ expects of me.
Charlie,
thought of another one.
I've been given the gift of Air Hockey (it is both a blessing and a curse)
I've have the wonderful and blessed experience of giving birth. What an awesome event and wonderful plan God created. I was in total awe the whole time and still am, in fact. I've had the awesome experience of leading my son to the Lord and even though I have done oh so many things wrong as a parent and wish I could do over, I have that one blessed event to fall back on and to keep me from feeling so regretful about the mistakes I made. Many times I have "despair" parties and dwell on all the bad parenting, but it all comes back to the one thing that truly counts and that is that I pointed him to God. I'm thankful for the friend that pointed out to me that God is the perfect parent, but that even He does not have perfect children.
how awesome it is to be able to watch my daughter grow up. not just physically grow up but really learn how to trust God and that life can be tough but with God nothing is impossible. i am so thankful that I can look at what God has given me in this life even though I don't deserve any of them. How selfish I was in my early 20's. I was pregnant and thought that I could not raise a child but God had a different plan. My life was a mess. I was hopeless and lost. God is a God of restoration and healing. I'm thankful that God can take all of our messes and use them later to bring someone else hope. I'm thankful that God erases any fears I have with his perfect love. He has blessed me with a Godly husband who encourages me and is my best friend. I am thankful that God gave me the courage to get married. My husband and I were married on the beach and that was awesome! There was a huge storm for days in Florida where we got married but just an hour or 30 minutes before we went on the beach to get married the rain stopped and the clouds started clearing. there was even a rainbow! It was like God was smiling on us and telling me He loved me and that he does have a plan for me. The very things that i've been through and have been ashamed of God has used to encourage others! I have been able to reach out to hurting women and offer them God's love.
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