“I just wish I made progress faster …and wish I had started earlier.”
I heard the voice of my daughter, coming from the kitchen, as she said this to my wife. My daughter was heartbroken, she was frustrated, and was expressing her regrets.
Don’t we all have them? If we could look back on our lives, despite what most say, wouldn’t we all change things? Oh boy… I sure would. Big time. But we can’t. So we take what we have been given, appreciate it for what it is and push forward.
My daughter walked past me and I said, “hey, come here…” I hugged her and said, “remember when we went to San Francisco and saw those huge trees?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think they grew fast?”
“No.”
“Well the fast-growing trees are weak, the slow-growing trees grow strong and tall.”
“Keep at it, slow, steady progress. No shortcuts, this is the path to success in everything.”
My daughter plays the harp beautifully and she is very talented. I have no doubt she will be at a very high level, well actually, I think she already is at a very high level, but there is always a higher level to achieve.
I regret my own personal level of achievement. “Lord, why didn’t you save me earlier in life?” I want to be a theologian, a godly man growing in the grace of the Lord at a faster pace, to achieve the highest level… I’d love to have more time to study… I’d love to this or I’d love to that…
But guess what? He didn’t, He chose the time and the place.
Why should I regret that? Why should my complaining spirit come through, my lack of contentment reign supreme? That’s an easy question to answer. But I really don’t like what it says about me at the core.
It really is a contentment issue after all, isn’t it? “Oh, this wicked heart of mine, how I hate it. Sometimes. Ugh…”
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-13
Wow, Paul had to learn. I have to learn. You have to learn and my daughter has to learn, how to be content. And what is the secret? Christ. He is the source of strength.
Press on brothers and sisters, you have a source that others don’t have.
Kevin
Uncommon Faith 
We have all had these regrets. How many times have I wished that I could go back in time and fix all the horrendous mistakes I’ve made and fix things with classmates, teachers, parents…etc. So much time was wasted in my life playing, fooling and just being an idiot. Ugh…then I remember what God laid on my heart once. God is sovereign. He doesn’t make mistakes. Every word, thought and deed is sovereignly ordained and planned by Him to lead to a specific point. Even though I think my life leading up to my salvation in 2009 was a complete waste, God guided me along the way from day one to this point to save me, and bring me into union with Him. If I was able to go back in time and fix those “mistakes” , I would mess up His perfect plans for me and for those I came in contact with on a daily basis. This truth is hard to understand and embrace, but very important to remember as a Christian. Who I am today is a direct result of my life and environment I was raised in.
To God be the glory. If my progress is deemed slow, so be it. As you said, the strongest trees take the longest to grow. God’s got a plan for all of us, and it will take as long as He desires, not us.
Paul, AMEN… that is beautifully said brother. Thank you.
Hard medicine my brother.