If Only...

(another one from the archives...)

If only I had paid more attention to my health when I was younger, I wouldn't be carrying 40lbs more than I should be;

If only I had learned about money management 20 years ago, I wouldn't be digging my way out of debt at middle age;

If only I had been raised in a Christian home, I wouldn't spend so much time re-training my feminist, selfish upbringing;

If only I had married at a younger age, the mystery of why my body will not produce more children would never have been an issue;

If only my husband and I had taken advantage of the years of good, double incomes, we would have our own home by now;

If only my mother had been a Christian woman, I could have sought out the means to a home business long ago;


If only I didn't have to work part time outside the home, I could spend more viable time raising my daughter in the view of Proverbs 31;

If only I spent more time concentrating on verses like this -

And we know that all things works together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

- I wouldn't waste so much time on the selfish thoughts mentioned and spend more time in gratitude.

Thank you Lord for taking hold of my heart when you did because you didn't have to do it. Thank you for giving me a husband who has grown to eagerly seek your will for his leadership in our family; for my beautiful daughter who daily shows me how to love and trust you wholeheartedly without reservation - as a child. Thank you Lord for the tremendous blessings of learning to live the simple life; for feelings of joy with each step I take climbing to a debt free life; for the love of a man who encourages me to seek to be the woman you would have me to be - and that my daughter can witness it. Thank you that your timing in my life is always perfect. Amen.