Shade Tree Wisdom 6/28/08

Most of us have some regrets. We know well the words, “If only I had “ or “I wish I did”, and “if I had only chosen that direction”. That’s why we memorized the John Greenleaf Whittier lines,
“Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these,
It might have been”.

Regrets. Can weigh us down, make our life sad, or end up in bitterness and even hatred.

In a Circuit meeting several months ago one member mentioned a book titled, “Eat That Frog”. Said it was available in libraries. I didn’t believe it, so next time I visited our local library, I asked the librarian for that book. She gave me a sort of ‘you’re pulling my leg look’, but checked the data base and said, “Yes, here it is”. She found it in the business section of Kingwood college in North Harris County. I asked her please to get it.

So here it is. It’s lying in front of me now. It is a self-help book with the subtitle,. 21 ways to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time. The title “Eat That Frog” comes from the thought, if the worst thing you had to do today was to eat a frog, get to it. Boil it, fry it, grill it, steam it, but get it done. After that, the rest of the tasks that day will be easier.

Makes sense, doesn’t it? Just start, and the thing gets done. Reminded me of the homestead in our neighborhood when I was growing up. The item that set this place off was a white rail fence around the property. Really looked fancy. But after some weathering, it needed to be painted, and a friend answered the plea for somebody to do it. Then he sort of wished he had not. And he talked with his father about the job. He sort of mentioned that he really did not want to do it. It was a boring job, dull. But his dad quoted that old bromide: “By the yard, it’s hard, but it’s a cinch, by the inch”. So he got started, did one board at a time, and soon finished, and was he ever proud! Pointed out his work to everyone who would listen.

So the book really exists, and it is quite helpful. It looks as if it was even used as a text for some classes. But how about those regrets? Things we did to hurt, words we spoke and cannot take back, actions we really should not have taken? There is help for that too..

King David said it best, and he said it for us all, "But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.” Psalm 130,4. And St. Paul writes, “In whom, (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according o the riches of his grace” Ephesians 1,7.

Let the word of the old apostle John be the final blessing, “If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” l John 1,7. Then, as Luther says, “go to sleep in peace under His care.” May the Lord ever bless your day.
GPD 6/28/08