This morning, while looking at a book review of a favorite author of mine, my eyes fell upon a comment made by one of his admirers. The comment given resonated with me.  “What happens to us as a child, affects the rest of our lives.”  I thought about that for a moment and the statement is true.

“Pain can change you, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad change.  Take that pain and turn it into wisdom.”      ~ Unknown

Regarding childhood, some have told me of their experiences.  Some of the experiences were good and some not so good.  My friend remembers his childhood with fondness.  His love for his mom’s cooking lingers even yet, as well as his likes for certain dishes and desserts.  His mother’s wise counsel and discipline remains a vital part of his personality today.  His character is above reproach, and had he been a member of the Lord’s church much earlier in life, would have made an excellent elder.

I look with curiosity at the childhood years of others and cannot relate for my childhood was “rocky” at best.

However, as those who have had a start in life which was not ideal, our lives do not have to end there.  Free-will does not keep us shackled to the past.  Obedience to God’s Word allows us to rise above a troubled life or childhood and become all we can be.

Paul is a great example of someone who changed his life.  This apostle did not allow his past to deter him from the mission he received from God.  Once he heard and obeyed the truth, he became an ardent servant of Christ.  He only looked back to teach from his experiences.

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit.”     Acts 7:59

“And Saul, was consenting unto his death.  And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”    Acts 8:1

“And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.”    Acts 8:2d

“As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and haling men and women committed them to prison.  Acts 8:3

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:  and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me.?  And he said, Who art Thou Lord?  And the Lord said, I Am Jesus Whom thou persecutest:  it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”      Acts 9:1-6

“And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem:  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to
bind all that call on Thy name.  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way:  for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”        Acts 9:13-16

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building on the new.”   ~ Socrates

“Aside from Christ Himself, no other historical figure has been so benevolently imposing.”     ~ Jesse Lyman Hurlbut

Adolf Deissmann, a renowned scholar, said of the apostle Paul:  “There is no single person since Nero’s days who has left such permanent marks on the souls of men as Paul the New Man.”  He noted that the grand apostle of Christ, “rising from the mass of the insignificant many,” is “still molding the world at the present moment.”

Let us always remember the inspired apostle Paul who once wreaked havoc upon the Lord’s church, but changed.  This is the beauty of Christianity!

“I press forward toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 3:14

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready.  The challenge will not wait.  Life does not look back.”      ~ Coelho

Eileen Light