I write from this premise: “Your Past is Not a Prophet, at Best; it is Only a Teacher”. So, what has the past taught us? I'm retired from an active ministry to Christian missionaries around the world. My advice to retirees is to stay curious, engage with others, and love the life you're living now. If you're 55 or older, let's talk to each other about how change has changed us.
How difficult is it to forgive
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I write from the premise that the past is not a prophet; at best, it is only a teacher. So, what has the past taught us? In this newsletter you'll read my devotional. Three eye-opening quotes and a bit of wisdom to carry you through the day. I'm so glad you're here. How difficult it is to forgive. What now?Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13. NLT. Just yesterday, while driving to visit my wife, the car beside me suddenly darted in front of me, and I swerved. Unuttered words flew through my brain. Just a mile down the road, the driver turned off to another road. That quick—he’s gone. That offense was quick and over with. The driver disappeared. But we have wounds from people who have not disappeared. There’s the unfaithful partner. She’s gone, never to return to your arms. Offended, yes. Yet there’s still a connection; she gave birth to your children. Forgiven, maybe. Easy to place blame, it sure is. How do you make allowance for someone once so close and now so far? One thing I know: Clutching the faults of others will burn a hole in your soul. Betrayal is real; it happens. But for the Christian, forgiveness is not optional; it’s a requirement. A devoted heart is a forgiving heart. I’ve been forgiven. Now it’s my turn. Quotes to ponder.Consistently gets us over the finish line every time.
What we do occasionally may inspire us, but what we do every day shapes us. We must abide in His Word! Pastor David Jeremiah.
When we hold a grudge, we lose all the time.
Life is too short for long-term grudges. Elon Musk.
Be the friend who stays during grief’s darkest moments each time.
In our darkest moments, we don’t need solutions or advice. What we yearn for is simply human connection—a quiet presence, a gentle touch. These small gestures are the anchors that hold us steady when life feels like too much. Ernest Hemingway.
A touch of wisdom for the journey.When the unexpected happens in your day, and we all have them, right? Instead of saying, Now what? Flip the two words to say, What now? Now what? Signifies doom and gloom. What now? Opens your mind to thoughts of improvement. Changing these two words will change a negative mindset to positive. Positive wins every time. By changing your mindset, you’ll change your day. Read more of the essential life lessons from an experienced octogenarian in Armstrong’s Timeless Views here. It’s free. Give me your thoughts: rich@richard-armstrong.com. I enjoy reading all the comments. |
Hi! I'm Richard Armstrong
I write from this premise: “Your Past is Not a Prophet, at Best; it is Only a Teacher”. So, what has the past taught us? I'm retired from an active ministry to Christian missionaries around the world. My advice to retirees is to stay curious, engage with others, and love the life you're living now. If you're 55 or older, let's talk to each other about how change has changed us.
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