Last week, our church had a kid’s event with water games. Gotta admit---it looked like fun! As they were making an announcement about it at church, my brother leaned over to me and asked, “Do you think they’d let me go down the Slip ‘n Slide?”
My reply, “I think we’ve already been there and done that---remember???”
Then the flashback began to a few years ago when I was leading a class of 4th-6th grade girls and we had a similar event.
On the way to the event that night, my brother told me:
“Des, I don’t want you to get upset about what I’m going to say, but don’t go down the waterslide. You’re not as young as you used to be and we’ve got too much to do for you to get hurt.”
In the car I agreed, but then, well, watching the kids have fun on the slip ‘n slid and having the other women there dare me to give it a try, I had to do it. (Funny, I don’t remember any of them volunteering to give it a try, but…)
After several attempts at the slip ‘n slide and a few hours playing with the kids in the pool, several hours later, I was on the sofa writing these words….
You know you’re old when:
1. You’re standing on the side of the pool watching the kids play, wishing, actually praying, that somebody---anybody would splash you and end the hot flash you’re currently experiencing.
2. You come home from a pool party and every muscle in your body aches.
3. You try to go down the slip ‘n slide and only make it down 1/3 of the way before you get stuck.
4. There’s no way you’re going to take the running jump that is required to go down the slip and slide because you’re sure you’ll end up in the emergency room.
5. You realize that your co-teacher who successfully slid down the slip and slide---twice---is 18 years younger than you are.
You know you’re old when:
6. You can’t wait to go home and get a shower because you’ve been noticing that the under 5 crowd isn’t taking any bathroom breaks.
7. The first thing you do after you get out of the shower is spray your feet with foot fungus repellent to ensure that you don’t get a foot infection.
8. You go to bed that night thanking God for the miracle of chiropractic medicine.
9. You lay in bed unable to sleep because of the pain in your back counting the hours until the Chiropractor opens.
10. In the middle of the night, you sit up and pray, “Dear God, if You just help me get through tonight, the next time my brother tells me to act my age, I will definitely do it.”
That’s when it hits you that your brother is right---you’re not as young as you used to be.
Still, looking back on that evening, I have to admit, I have no regrets.
Even after one of the older ladies at church gave me a thorough rebuke on facebook for insinuating that 3 year olds might be prone to use the pool as a potty, I still have no regrets for making the post.
Why? Because it was a great night and I had so much fun. Also, I think it’s important that as woman and Christians, we don’t take ourselves so seriously. We’ve got to lighten up, realize we’re all funny and ridiculous and take big doses of laughter---the best medicine.
Mostly, I look back on that night (and the pain afterwards) without regret because I know without a doubt that I poured my heart and soul into the girls in that class. I put everything I had into showing them they were loved, appreciated, and enjoyed. I did my best to set an example of a godly woman who loved Jesus and enjoyed living for Him. If that meant looking ridiculous while I slid (mostly) down a slip ‘n slide, then so be it.
No regrets! No regrets!!
What about you?
Are you living your life from the safety of the sidelines or have you jumped into life full force?
Are you avoiding potential failures or living with no regrets?
Are you so worried about what people think that you’re missing the best part of life?
This month I want to challenge you: as we’re wrapping up summer and moving into Fall, I dare you to jump into all that God has for you. Whatever He has called you to do, give it everything you’ve got.
Choose to live your life in a way that you look back and say, “I have no regrets”
If it doesn’t turn out exactly the way you planned, brush yourself off, have a good laugh, and at least know that you gave it everything you had. After all, isn’t it better to strike out swinging than never have the guts to get up to bat at all? Who knows, along the way, you might even hit it out of the park!
Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Let’s take this challenge seriously and live without regret.
Are you with me?
