--No Regrets ~~

--"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
--[Philippians 1:6/ NIV] --

--Leslie often talked about one of her greatest regrets: she was too much of a people-pleaser, which made her feel self-conscious and confined one of her greatest joys, her writing.

"In school, I wrote stories and my teachers told me I was a good writer. I didn't have great confidence but I knew I could write." she told me. "Yet my people-pleasing began to hold me back because I feared others might not like the stories. So I never shared my most creative writing and now I regret hiding so much of myself from others."

Her description reminded me of something I've heard; the number one regret of dying people is about living a life others expected rather than living true to themselves. That was reason enough for me to try to talk Leslie out of her regrets. But the more we talked, the more I realized that I'm something of a people-pleaser, too, and my talking was partly in my own defense.

During Holy Week, I think about Jesus's last days in Jerusalem. He was not Who everyone wanted Him to be, but He had the courage to always be Who God created Him to be. He was a God-Pleaser Who didn't fear what others might think. And in heaven He redeems our regrets and unfinished business. That's a blessing for Leslie now.

As for me, its a wake-up call. ~~

--"Lord I pray for the courage to know and to be who You made me to be, on this side of heaven, and that You will redeem the regrets I might still be carrying when I reach the Resurrection. Help me, Lord to never be ashamed of You and Your Word. In Jesus Name I pray. ~ amen"

---Guideposts/CK~