If Only's

You've said this. We all have. "If only..." you fill in the blank. These are the phrases we say when tragedy strikes. If only I'd called, said I love you, not had the argument. If only I'd have been there, spoken to them, kept in contact. If only I'd finished the repairs, gone on vacation, not worked so much... The tragedies are many, from broken relationships, to accidents, to sickness, to death. We cannot help but think sometimes of the "if only's." But no matter how bad we feel, they don't change anything.

"If" can be such an empty word.

I remember hearing a couple of "if" phrases when I was growing up that I can't repeat here, but the idea is simple, "if's" don't count. But they can teach us something about ourselves and can press us for a change in the future.

We cannot live by "ifs." That's living in a dream world. "If this happens, or if that happens, then I can (will)..." It's like putting life on hold. It's not that we can't make plans or have thoughts of options depending on the "if" variables. To live by "if's" is to live with regret, always waiting for something else to take place.

This week amidst two deaths and a family tragedy I've heard some "if only's." But I've discovered how to live beyond these. Don't wait to do something!

If you want to call someone, call them! If you need to fix a relationship, then by all means do it! Don't wait! It just may lead to the "if only" feelings. You've been there before, don't be there again.

Don't wait for death to bring the family together, get together now. And don't wait for God's blessing to begin trusting Him, trust him how and discover the blessings God is already pouring out. Don't wait for the "if's." Act! It's what has God done for us, over and over again.

Zechariah was a prophet to the people returning from exile. He was bringing God's encouragement to rebuild the Temple and to live according to God's simple formula,

"Treat one another justly,
Love your neighbors,
Be compassionanate with each other,
Don't take advantage of widows, orphans visitors and the poor.
Don't plot and scheme against one another - that's evil."(Zech. 7:9-10, Msg)

His word to the people of Israel?

Act!

It's exactly what we need to do as well. It wipes out the "if only's!"

Peace ><>
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