Simple plan
Never look back
When I asked my wife’s father 15 years ago if I could marry
his only daughter, he gave me some advice that baffled me. “No matter what
happens,” he said, “never look back!”
At the time I didn’t grasp the significance of what he was
saying. I had no intention of looking back. In a few short months I was going
to get married, start my career, move to a new city, find another church, make
new friends and begin adding to the foundation Janna’s and my parents started
so we too would have a great family.
Never look back? I didn’t intend to — I was looking
forward.
Over the years I’ve concluded my father-in-law was really
telling me to seek God’s will first and foremost. In doing so, I would spare
myself from looking back on any decision or action with regret or doubt.
It was a good lesson to learn early on.
I do look back, though. Doing so allows me to appreciate
God’s presence and handiwork in my life, learn from my triumphs and mistakes,
reminisce about good people and times, and also to know how to move
forward.
Today we’re asking you to look back on 2008 with those goals
in mind. Our prayer is you will do so with your eyes on God and the plan He has
for you.
Kirk Noonan
E-mail your comments to tpe@ag.org.
