4 Things that Can't be Recovered

A friend of mind posted this quote on Facebook the other day:

Four things you can't recover: The stone, after the throw. The word, after it's said. The occasion, after it's missed. Time, after it's gone.

I love that, even if it does step on my toes a bit! The two that hit me the hardest were the words and the time.

WORDS: How often do we blurt something out to our kids or spouse in the heat of the moment. We wish we could take it back - may even say we take it back. But it's too late. The damage has been done. The hurt has been handed out. If what we said was bad enough, we may need to do some major work to repair that damage and restore the trust.

With that in mind, what a responsibility we have as writers! The words we write will impact the lives of those who read them - whether for good or bad. And the critiques and feedback we offer other writers will also leave a mark. Of course, that doesn't mean that everything we say or write has to be positive and cheery. But how we execute criticism and bathe a difficult or negative message we're conveying is what's important. Always speak the truth- particularly hard-to-hear truth - in love. Remember that once the words are out, we can't take them back.

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 3:5
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.


TIME...man, how many opportunities to spend time with my kids have I missed? TOO many - that's for sure. And how many opportunities to spend time with God have I passed up? WAY too many. Which makes me wonder how many priceless memories or imprints on my kids' hearts or breakthroughs in my spiritual walk have been lost because I didn't spend my time wisely. Oy...

In the same way, how many books could I have written by now if I had spent my time writing instead of playing computer games or watching television? I don't even want to think about it.

I don't know about you, but when I get to heaven, I want to make God proud of the ways I used the time He gave me on earth. I'm not saying that playing computer games or watching TV is a bad thing, just that I, personally, need to re-evaluate how I spend my time. And when I do, I'm sure I'll realize I've wasted way too much of it.

Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

James 4:14-17
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Basically, this quote has helped me to consider what's truly important in life. How I act, what I say, and how I spend my time...these are things that affect not only my life (and others' lives) here on earth, but that hold eternal value.

Something deep to think about today.