The past, the present and the future; we all have our expectations and ideas about this, but I think we can all agree on what they are. The past is what has been, the present is what is, and the future is what will be.
We all have a past. Some of us have a longer past than others, but we all have a past that has helped to shape us into the people we are today in the present. What we have done in the past has an uncanny way of affecting what happens in the future.
It’s wise to think about the past and learn from it, but it’s unwise for us to live in the past. It’s also wise for us to think about the future and plan for it, but it’s unwise for us to live in the future. The present moment is where we must live and it’s the only true reality we can experience.
There comes a time when our past must be the past. Our former experiences, our victories and defeats, our right and wrong choices can play itself like a rerun over and over in our minds and lock our present in the land of what once was or what could have been. Perhaps it’s best for the past to stay in the past. The past is a funny thing; it can hold so much power over us if we let it. But if we can let go of the past and live in the present we can enjoy what life has to offer, today, right now.
I’m encouraged by the psalmist who wrote, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it,” (Psalm 118:24).
Every day in itself is a blessing from God and has its own set of options, potential, and promise. Every new day has the potential to be a fresh start, and today does not have to be like yesterday, unless you choose it to be. So make the most of every breath you breathe and remember it’s a gift given to you for this day and this moment. Being glad in today for what it has to offer is the best you can do for yourself.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” (Proverbs 17:22).
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