Rebel to Redeemed: What Might Have Been
Years ago, there was a popular song released by Little Texas, “What Might Have Been.”
Helen Keller said, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
I refused to see the open doors for a long time, because I kept looking at the closed ones.
For years I always wondered what might have been.
- What might have been if I’d stayed in college the first time?
- What might have been if I’d made different choices as a teenager?
- What might have been if I’d not married at 18?
- What might have been if I’d sought God’s will for my life?
- What might have been if I’d not been rebellious?
- What might have been if I’d talked with my parents about what I was going through? {instead of fighting them}
I allowed, “what might have been” to be the question I asked myself for years. How might life have been different? I always thought for the better, but it could have also been worse in ways I never expected.
As much as I wish I could re-do the past and change my mistakes, that’s not possible.
I’ve had to learn to live with the consequences to these mistakes. Yet, these mistakes have made me stronger, shown me my potential and helped in forming the person I am today.
However, I discovered that I can’t live in the past. Focusing too much on my mistakes and the past, hinders me from looking forward to the future. The Japanese say it best with the following proverb, “let the past drift away with the water.”
This was a costly mistake for me and was a lesson that took me years to learn. Sadly, I had many more years of rebellion ahead of me.
However, now as I deal with mistakes I’ve made, I attempt to work through them. Yes, I wonder “what might have been” but I can’t allow that to be the message that keeps me living and the past and from moving forward to the future.
Charles Dickens said, “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” Wise words to live by!
What are some of your might have beens?