June 22, 2026 – Regret
Sometime in the last year, I added L-shaped shelves to the corner of our sunroom to house some of the games, interesting books, art, and other knick knacks that I wanted to have on display and within reach to use and enjoy. Sometime over the weekend I rearranged things bit trying to make it look more orderly, but I’m not sure I succeeded. Still, it makes me happy to have these things nearby. As I sat down to write (early) this morning, I had to move a few items from my seat that hadn’t found a home on the shelves.
One was a booklet, Tap Roots from April 2009, full of genealogy on my mother’s side of the family (and other families in East Alabama), most of which was collected and submitted by my Aunt Libba (Mama’s sister). I’ve skimmed these pages in the past (mainly to see my name), but as I read some of the entries, I found myself wishing I could ask her some questions and lamenting that hadn’t been more diligent in looking through all of the history and the stories that she preserved for our family. I could never imagine being at the age in which I’d realize that all of the people were correct who told me, through the years, to “take advantage of your time with them while you have them.” I of course knew people would grow old and pass away, but somehow my psyche didn’t think that would apply to the people in my life. I thought I had plenty of time to ask questions and listen to stories.
We have to take the time with the people we love, the old and the young, (even if we are busy and especially if we think we are busy) to appreciate who they are and what they contribute to our lives…it negates, or it could negate, the need for regrets.
Power – Interestingly, as if this was set in place just for me for this moment, the title of Joyce’s devotion today is, “No Excuses,” and is based on Judges 6:12 when the angel of the Lord tells Gideon, “The Lord is with you.” Joyce explains, “In Judges 6:14 God says, ‘Have I not sent you?’ In other words, ‘Would I ask you to do something I haven’t equipped you to do?” …Because words have power, Gideon believed what he said about himself more than the encouraging words of the Lord. Stop thinking of excuses or things to complain about – It’s too hard; I’ve never done this before; this isn’t what I had planned; I don’t know how; I’m too old/young; I don’t feel like it; I’m afraid – and start doing what God is telling you to do.”
Aunt Libba spent most of her life happily doing the oftentimes tiring work of gathering family history into volumes and volumes of notebooks excitedly bringing them to reunions and trying to encourage others to take an interest in preserving our history. I believe all of us appreciate her efforts and many of us sat down and looked through her offerings at reunions and when we visited her home; but, by the end of her life, it seemed like she felt as if no one was very interested. And what a shame that is because her work, her existence in our lives, was a great gift to all of us.
Days – Aunt Libba knew, and lived, what Simpson shares, “More than any other [Paul] has imparted to us the secret of His strength; ‘We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones’…. ‘The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? My flesh and my heart faint and fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.’ Beloved, have we learned this secret, and are we living the life of the Incarnate One in our flesh?”
JC – “Thank Me for the very things that are troubling you…. Thanking me for trials will feel awkward and contrived at first. But if you persist, your thankful words, prayed in faith, will eventually make a difference in your heart. Thankfulness awakens you to My Presence, which overshadows all your problems.” See Psalm 116:17 and Philippians 4:4-6. Regret is something that has troubled me all my life, sometimes feeling it (and learning from it), but mainly trying to be mindful of situations and opportunities so that I don’t live with regret.
It is troubling me that I didn’t visit with Aunt Libba one more time before I left for Italy. I heard that whisper, on my way home from visiting a friend in Fairhope, telling me to detour off I65 in Montgomery onto I85 toward Auburn, but I had only a week at that point to get things in order for Italy. And, I wanted to get more organized before I gathered more information from her for the book. And, I thought the time after the trip would be better to dive deeper into the project. Excuses. Regret. I realize that I’m repeating myself from earlier blogs, but this is still troubling me, Lord. So, thank You for the loving, caring family and friends You’ve given me. Help me to appreciate and make time for them. Forgive me for what I’ve missed. I trust You to work all things out for my good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Streams – Proverbs 10:12 – “Love covers all wrongs.” Cowman agrees and encourages, “When you are troubled, share your problems with God alone.”
Utmost – Chambers starts with Matthew 7:2 and reiterates its message, “Whatever judgment you give, it is measured to you again…. If you have been shrewd in finding out the defects in others, remember that will be exactly the measure given to you…. Romans 2 applies it in a still more definitive way, and says that the one who criticises another is guilty of the very same thing.”
Gulp. Such truth! I have heard this throughout my life and have tried to heed the warning, but still I sometimes find myself ruminating over the faults of others. More and more, because I don’t want to regret my words and actions, I have held my tongue trying to remember to take my thoughts to God and let Him show me why I was judging the other person. This helps me be aware of not finding myself in the position of being judged for the same thing. Talking about and standing on the faults of others makes us feel taller, but we should try to remember that a fall from that higher position will likely hurt more.
Prevail #173 – Jeremiah 2:12 – “’The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,’ says the Lord.” Larson tells of a Christian woman, hosting a Bible study in her home with “Christian plaques on the wall,” who surprisingly told her that she had been having affairs. Larson wrote, “I learned later that her husband knew of the affairs and was fighting for his marriage. Who would turn away from a bubbling brook to drink water out of a mud hole? Yet daily, the heavens gasp because our lips are covered with dirt. Every time we turn to idols to prop us up…. Every time we shift our dependence onto our possessions, our status, or our associations, we’re lapping up grimy water. God wants us to enjoy life, to flourish in the good gifts He entrusts to us…. I don’t want the heavens to gasp; I want them to rejoice over my faith. May streams of living water flow through you because of Christ’s transformative power within you.”
JA – “WHENEVER YOU ARE FEELING SAD, I want you to anticipate feeling joyful again. This takes the sting out of your sorrow because you know it is only temporary…. Pain and struggle help you change and grow stronger when you trust Me in the midst of adversity…. Even now you can grow in awareness of My Presence, where there is fullness of joy.”
JL – “Mighty God, Help me to trust You by relinquishing control into Your hands…. I rejoice that You encourage me to speak candidly to You – pouring out my heart as I express my concerns and bring You my requests…. When the problems come to mind again, please remind me to continue thanking You for the answers that are on the way…. In Your excellent Name, Jesus, Amen.” See Psalm 46:10 and Psalm 62:8.
