Ernie and I walked through the food court at the Tucson Mall toward the doors that opened to the lower parking lot. I opened the clear glass door and stepped outside, the hot air overwhelmed the air conditioned air of the Mall.
That’s when Ernie said,”But you’d agree, wouldn’t you, that regrets can be positive?”
“Well, maybe,” I reluctantly agreed. “But regret also attracts some bad consequences.”
“Yes, I don’t disagree, but I’m choosing to highlight some of the positives.”
My head was spinning as I tried to think clearly about regret. Regret for me has always been negative because I couldn’t see regret as a possible positive. Regret defeated me. We were half way to Ernie’s car and I said, “Still, I’m not sure the positives negate the negatives.”
“No, of course not, the positive doesn’t nullify the negative but still, there can be a positive result from regret,” Ernie said confidently.
“Oh, alright.”
“Peter, Jesus’ disciple, is an example,” Ernie pressed, “My question is would Peter have become the follower of Jesus that he did without his denial of Jesus?”
“Well we’ll never know, but I see what you’re saying.”
“You know, what I’m saying is that when something regrettable happens make it work for you and not against you. A remembered regret becomes a constructive motivator. Does that make sense?”
“It’s a different thought Ernie.”
“Yes, but regret can work for you when you put regret in the hands of God.”
“Okay, I’ll think about trying that.”
“Now, I don’t regret what has happened to me because it has made me who I am and God is the potter through my entire journey.”
(Make Regret Work for You here)
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