I MISSED OUT

                                                             I MISSED OUT

I need to get these thoughts out while they are fresh on my mine. Yesterday at church a song was sung that caught my attention.  It talked about the things I missed out on in life.  You all know the story of the Prodigal Son.  He went out and wasted all his living  in a life of sin.  Then when he returned  home his father welcomed him with loving arms and a feast.   He had left his brother at home to take care of the family business.  As his brother comes home, the elder brother feels slighted.  

When I was a young person I could relate to the elder son.  Why did it seem that those that went out from the church into an awful life of sin ~ when they came back there was so much made over them.  Yet, we that had stayed true to the Lord and tried to live a consistent Christian life were taken for granted.  But as I matured and grew a little wiser I realized how selfish that was of me to think those thoughts.  Really, how carnal!

Oh sure, I was glad they came back, but deep down inside I guess I wanted a little praise for staying by the stuff and serving the Lord.  

Really, how carnal can  a person get?  Wanting self praise?  But remember I said that was when I was a young person. 

I have learned a lot through the years.  Let me tell you a few things I have learned and a few things I missed out on.

First, I missed out on a lot of heartaches.  I know in the Christian life we have heartaches.  But we have the Lord to turn to.  He is always there and always helps us through.

Second, I missed out on a lot of sorrow.  Again, in the Christian life we have sorrows, but we have a Comforter to lean on.  I think of some of the young people that  went out in sin and are still there. 

They have reap heartaches and sorrow untold with no one to help them through.  Some of them have never gotten over all that befell them. My heart aches for them.

Third, I missed out on a lot of regrets.  The regrets of a sinful life.  It is so good to be able to lay your head on your pillow at night and not have to think of the pass things that a sinful life brings.  I know, even in our Christian life there are a lot of things we would have changed if we could go back, but at the time we thought we were doing the right thing.  It has been in those mistakes that we have learned and grown as a child of  God. I have no regrets for the things I have missed.  

Fourth, I know we are probably called socially misfits, but so what? We don't need  society  as our road model. The things that children and young people have as road models these days alarm me.  The music, (if it can be called music)  the fashions etc. that we see as we look around us are shameful.  I  don't mind being called a social misfit.  I don't fit, so why should I mind?

I know there are many more things that I'd have missed out on, but I'd rather be called  a social misfit or too old fashion than to have all the so called pleasures out there in the world.  I have no regrets for giving my life to the Lord at an early age.  

I can't imagine facing the world without the Lord to help me.  Every day that I live I'll thank the Lord for what I missed.