It's Been Awhile

I haven't blogged in a few months. I know some of you have been asking why, so here's my reason: I've been consumed with other projects so this blog usually took a back seat to the other ministries I'm involved with. However, I'm hopefully going to be more faithful to posting. I have often thought that I would stop writing this blog, but once in a while I hear how someone gets blessed and how it's impacting their lives so I feel a burden for those people, and for you, my faithful readers. Appropriately, I've named this post, "It's Been Awhile." Not only because it's been a long while since I've posted, but because I started wondering on all the things that we put on the back burners or don't prioritize in our lives. Things that are important, but distractions keep them at bay. For example, if there is at least one lesson that Covid should teach us is that life is fragile. If that is the case, what are you doing with your life that is helping you embrace the precious time you have on earth?

Precious time with family, friends, loved ones, etc. This past month there was a special lady that passed away. She was a friend of the family, and I've known her since I was a little kid. I used to go to her house often and enjoyed every time I would go and hang out with her kids. Unfortunately, she died of Covid. That led me to start thinking about how we are not promised tomorrow, but the present is all we are guaranteed and that's why they call it a gift. What are you doing with your gift? If it's been awhile since you spent time with your loved ones, why not plan to do so as soon as possible. When was the last time you took your spouse out to a date? If it's been awhile, maybe it's time you spend some quality time with each other, with no kids or distractions. When was the last time you got some coffee or grabbed lunch with a good friend? If it's been awhile, maybe it's time you connected again. Let's take this a little deeper. When was the last time you said, "I'm sorry," to someone you hurt, but you keep putting it off because you have justified your actions or words? If it's been awhile, maybe it's time you stop justifying and start apologizing. Or maybe someone hurt you, stabbed you in the back, was disloyal and you are harboring some ill feelings and bitterness...maybe they didn't apologize...and so the anger or pain is still there. If it's been awhile since you forgave, maybe it's time you forgave them despite their lack of saying sorry. I read a quote the other day that was priceless: "I never knew how strong I was until I had to forgive someone who wasn't sorry and accept an apology I never received." Read that quote again. Have you ever been there? If you have been carrying some heaviness in your heart in regards to forgiveness and it's been making you weak for awhile now, it's time you experience the strength that forgiveness offers. I read one time that not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. If it's been awhile, maybe it's time you forgave.

What are you waiting for? Please go and demonstrate your love to anyone you've been holding it back from for awhile. Don't let time continue without doing the most important things in your life. Don't allow for distractions to steal the time you have...especially if it's been awhile.