Getting Past Your Past (2)

Image by stevehdc via Flickr

Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:18-19

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln lost several elections before finally becoming one of America's greatest presidents? In fact, he failed so often it was amazing he kept trying. Did you know that the material used to make Kleenex tissues was invented as a gas mask filter during World War I and it failed? Then when inventors tried to make it into cold cream it flopped again. Finally they repackaged it as disposable handkerchiefs, and guess what; people buy 200 billion of them annually. Not bad for a product that bombed twice! You can't seize your future while you're obsessing over your past. So learn from it and let it go. Heed the advice of author Susan Scott: 'My dog and cat have taught me a great lesson in life: learn to shed a lot!'

Nobody starts out being good at everything. Tackling new ventures usually means learning by trial and error. When Charles Darrow got married he promised his wife they'd become millionaires. But the Great Depression came and they ended up hitting rock bottom. Darrow was ready to give up his dream but his wife encouraged him to keep going. Then one day he devised the idea of using 'play money' to buy 'pretend properties,' and he turned his vision into a board game with little houses and hotels. It's called Monopoly, and Parker Brothers bought it from Darrow for, you've guessed it, a million dollars! Remember, when you're on the right track and you refuse to give up, God can do something great through you. So keep going and don't look back.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.