The family of a minister friend of mine has had a busy couple of months. To begin with, he and his wife recently sold their home and purchased another one nearby. However, it just so happened that this move coincided with their youngest son’s graduation from high school. And then, add to that one last family trip to Florida following graduation, leaving a house full of boxes waiting to be sorted upon their return, and one can easily see what constituted all the busy-ness.
But, of course, the activity itself was intensified by the significance of the various events involved. In many respects, what unfolded was one life event inside of another life event inside of yet another life event. Any one of these was significant enough by itself; but when added up, their combined significance obvious had a considerable impact upon the family.
And there was more to come. Once they got home, yet another reality began to set in. Having just finished spending several days unpacking and sorting their belongings, they sat resting from their labors when their youngest son approached them and announced that he was going upstairs and have himself an official “Toy Story 3” moment.
His parents knew exactly what he was referring to. Perhaps you do as well. In the Toy Story series of movies, a young boy named Andy has a collection of favorite toys that proceed to have adventures of their own. While unbeknownst to him, these adventures ultimately had a bearing on his own life.
As the movies unfold successively, Andy himself ages. In the third movie, the plot revolves around this once little boy having come of age and having to say good-bye to his childhood toys as he prepares to heads off to college.
The young man’s allusion to this merely reflects the reality of his current situation. What he himself is now facing is the same as that reflected in the fictional character Andy – that the time has now come to say good-bye to the relative comforts and security of childhood and to embrace the daunting and disconcerting responsibilities of adulthood instead.
Along with his parents, I applaud him for this. The mere fact that he grasps this point places him in front of the curve. He is to be commended for recognizing and embracing what is a necessary if painful step in life.
For it will very likely be but the first of many such steps that he will be required to take as he moves forward in life. At every stage, you see, life presents us the opportunity to let go of yesterday and move boldly forward into tomorrow. And when it does, the security of the past will invariably have to be sacrificed if we are to experience the promise of the future.
Perhaps this is what the writer of the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes had in mind (in chapter 3, verses 1-8) when he said that there is a time and a season for everything under the sun, and included in that list “a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away…”
It is certainly part of what the Old Testament prophet Isaiah had in mind when he wrote (in chapter 43, verses 18-19): “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Isn’t it great to know that God cares for us at every step along life’s way? His blessings are sufficient for us at every part of life journey. And that means that as long as we are willing to embrace the future, He always promises to do something new and fresh and exciting in our lives.
This being the case, why not take some time and remember His blessings from yesterday, thanking Him as you do. But having done so, be quick to look forward to the blessings He has promised for tomorrow. And talk with Him about what all He has in store for you as you do! When tomorrow dawns, you’ll be glad you did!
SCRIPTURE SOURCES: http://biblehub.com/niv/ecclesiastes/3.htm and http://biblehub.com/niv/isaiah/43.htm.
But, of course, the activity itself was intensified by the significance of the various events involved. In many respects, what unfolded was one life event inside of another life event inside of yet another life event. Any one of these was significant enough by itself; but when added up, their combined significance obvious had a considerable impact upon the family.
And there was more to come. Once they got home, yet another reality began to set in. Having just finished spending several days unpacking and sorting their belongings, they sat resting from their labors when their youngest son approached them and announced that he was going upstairs and have himself an official “Toy Story 3” moment.
His parents knew exactly what he was referring to. Perhaps you do as well. In the Toy Story series of movies, a young boy named Andy has a collection of favorite toys that proceed to have adventures of their own. While unbeknownst to him, these adventures ultimately had a bearing on his own life.
As the movies unfold successively, Andy himself ages. In the third movie, the plot revolves around this once little boy having come of age and having to say good-bye to his childhood toys as he prepares to heads off to college.
The young man’s allusion to this merely reflects the reality of his current situation. What he himself is now facing is the same as that reflected in the fictional character Andy – that the time has now come to say good-bye to the relative comforts and security of childhood and to embrace the daunting and disconcerting responsibilities of adulthood instead.
Along with his parents, I applaud him for this. The mere fact that he grasps this point places him in front of the curve. He is to be commended for recognizing and embracing what is a necessary if painful step in life.
For it will very likely be but the first of many such steps that he will be required to take as he moves forward in life. At every stage, you see, life presents us the opportunity to let go of yesterday and move boldly forward into tomorrow. And when it does, the security of the past will invariably have to be sacrificed if we are to experience the promise of the future.
Perhaps this is what the writer of the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes had in mind (in chapter 3, verses 1-8) when he said that there is a time and a season for everything under the sun, and included in that list “a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away…”
It is certainly part of what the Old Testament prophet Isaiah had in mind when he wrote (in chapter 43, verses 18-19): “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Isn’t it great to know that God cares for us at every step along life’s way? His blessings are sufficient for us at every part of life journey. And that means that as long as we are willing to embrace the future, He always promises to do something new and fresh and exciting in our lives.
This being the case, why not take some time and remember His blessings from yesterday, thanking Him as you do. But having done so, be quick to look forward to the blessings He has promised for tomorrow. And talk with Him about what all He has in store for you as you do! When tomorrow dawns, you’ll be glad you did!
SCRIPTURE SOURCES: http://biblehub.com/niv/ecclesiastes/3.htm and http://biblehub.com/niv/isaiah/43.htm.