Louisa Fletcher Tarkington wrote in “The Land of Beginning Again”:
I wish that there were some wonderful place
Called the Land of Beginning Again
Where all of our mistakes, and all of our heartaches,
And all of our poor, selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door
And never be put on again.
I’ve heard some people claim they regret nothing, because it’s made them who they are today. I understand this declaration, but I don’t always buy it. I certainly have regrets. I think we all do. I have had days where I wish I could drop my shabby old coat at the door and leave it there.
We can’t erase the past. But, we can embrace today and all of its opportunities. I can choose to hang that coat up and not put it on again. I can, instead, wear His coat of mercy and grace and start anew.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5.17
Are you still wearing a shabby old coat?
DustyTakle.com 
No, we can’t change the past, but we do have to learn to live with it. God’s grace helps there. We can wish for a “do over”, but taking the lessons learned & moving forward is the only way we should go. And when we get mired in events in the past, we need to look to God for the strength to go on. He does provide it.
I’ve heard some people claim they regret nothing, because it’s made them who they are today. Wow….don’t evennnnn know how to respond to that.
I have many regrets, but am glad I serve a God who “Makes all things new”…we sang a song back in the good ole days….He’s NOT making all NEW things, He’s making ALL things new…
In the famous words of Cher…IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME!!!!!
Karen, you’re right. If it weren’t for God’s grace, we could never throw down that old coat!
Judy, I think it’s pride when people make such statements about regretting nothing. And, Amen on Cher. LOL
By the way, Judy, I thought of you last night when Marla commented on yesterday’s post about the Milky Way. Wasn’t that your fave??
AHHHHHH MILKY WAY….MY FAVORITE BY FAR!!!!!!!
Did you read Scott’s blog…you are changing the face of blog world lol
Very good blog! I am thinking, (uh ohhh) lol, about that scripture, Mathew 5:3 “God blesses those who realize their need for God” Wow, I sure realize it every day! I remember when i got saved, I realized it BIG time, 22 yrs ago, i kept the Bible stuck like glue to me. Carried it everywhere. I needed to change, to grow, to renew my mind, heal my heart. But God is soo merciful, kind, gentle, so it is taking some more time for that growth. LoL! But it is worth it, I always say, each year as i get older, (57 now, lol) No brag, just fact, as Walter Brennan used to say, ha, “I wouldn’t trade my years for anything in this world, of what I have already learned” The revelation, is freedom in Him”
Judy, thanks for the confidence, but I doubt that I am changing the face of this massive blogging world!
Lynn, great testimony and realization that we are truly free in Him.
My coat is good, but my socks…. That’s where the problem is.
For those that don’t know, I made some pretty big/bad choices in my life. Choices to stay away from anything “God.” My coat was very dirty, and very old. Long story short… I do regret the hurt I caused lots of people, I do wish my coat would have at least been laundered a little back then, BUT…. I know that God saw me, ME!!, and loved me so much He not only took that dirty mean ol’ coat from me, He gave me a shiny new coat, and a moped. Rabbit tralis, sorry…. Anyways, He made me who I am through some of those bad choices. That is awesome to me. So my answer is, No I have a new coat… Yes I am a new creature, God’s grace is enough. Amen. p.s. My coat is shiny.
Wearing it? No. But it would seem I take it out of the trunk once in a while so I can tell someone about it – give glory to Glory. My testimony is in the pockets of that old coat. 🙂
stealing your quote sister. I love this post. Good job! Hope to see your shining face tonight. i miss it