1. The Stone After the Throw
Oh, how much easier it is to see the faults in others than it is to see our own faults! How quick we are to attack someone else or to pass judgment on them. And yet these stones we hurl at others can never be retrieved. Jesus knew this. He says to us, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” (John 8:7).
2. The Word After It’s Said
“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs“ -Pearl Strachan. The words we speak are powerful things. Words can tear down or they can build up. They can bring death or they can bring life. But once they have left our lips, they are like leaves scattered to the wind – they can never be taken back. So before you lash out with harsh words, take a moment to press pause and measure what you say with grace and mercy.
3. The Oppourtunity After It’s Missed
“I held a moment in my hand, brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a tiny sliver of one hour. I dropped it carelessly, Ah! I didn’t know, I held opportunity.” - Hazel Lee. Oppourtunities in life aren’t always easy to recognize. We usually expect them to come with beepers and billboards, but most often they are dressed in overalls and look like work. Sometimes we call oppourtunities problems and we try to avoid them, but the truth is nothing is so often irretrievably missed as a daily oppourtunity.
4. The Time After It’s Gone
Life is short. I have never been more aware of this until now. Watching my ten-month old son grow up in front of my eyes so quickly has reminded me that life goes not backward nor waits for any man. And so make the most of the time you have been given, and “don’t be fooled by the calendar – there are only as many days in the year as you make use of” – Charles Richards.
