Hindsight is 20/20
My husband and I were in our accountant’s office when I received a life-changing telephone call.
“Jan, I am sending your mom to the hospital this morning. She hasn’t been feeling well for a few days.” Stated Lisa her care nurse from the assisted living where she resided.
I packed my bags and took the next ferry over to be with her. Looking back now, this was the first step in my Mom’s preparation to transition to the other side. She passed three weeks later.
A month after this, I climbed out of my car and twisted my ankle. Over the next few hours, the pain was so excruciating that a co-worker drove me to urgent care. After waiting several hours for an X-ray, the doctor concluded that I had a sprained ankle. He put me in a big black boot and gave me a knee scooter to get around. It was very frustrating and humbling all at the same time. I could no longer walk to the park or ride my bicycle. Looking back now, I realize I was being taught a lesson in patience and not to take my good health for granted.
Over the summer, the company that I enjoyed working for announced they would be dissolving. I flew down to San Francisco to say goodbye to my work friends and colleagues. Some of us had worked together for over 9 years. Our farewell luncheon lasted well past the dinner hour. Looking back now, I realize that I was very lucky to be mentored and befriended by this special group of people. Good working relationships and good employers are rare.
Life does have a rear view mirror. I encourage you not to be afraid of looking back. When life presents a significant change, we don’t always understand the reason why right away. Sometimes, it takes years to recognize that we are better off because we didn’t take that job or move to a different city.
When we are going through life’s trials and disappointments, we need to have faith. At some point, the telltale of the rearview mirror will give us a sense of appreciation and gratitude for the lessons we learned.
Go ahead and look back – it’s ok.
It’s ok to look back.
Love this one!
Katherine
This is such a great message. It’s so true. Early this year as we were driving to California to visit my aging parents, I got a phone call saying my father had been in the hospital for 2 days and he wasn’t expected to live more than a couple of days. I thank God he’d sent a message to me that I needed to go home for a visit. We arrived the next day. My father had been unconscious for 2 days. When we arrived other family had made it there just before us. My pops was wake and alert. We were able to have conversations. 32 hours later we said our final goodbye at his hospice bedside. If we hadn’t planned that trip I wouldn’t have been able to tell him how much I loved him and thank him for the wonderful life he’d given me, before our lord called him home. I will always look back. You and Gerry are a part of our other rear view mirror experience, faced with a new job and no place to live. We kept faith, knowing God had to have a plan. He brought the wonderful house and you both into our life at the exact right moment. We can’t thank him or Gerry and you enough!