I was making dinner the other day while my boys
were watching television in the living room. I was putting on a pot of water
to boil when suddenly a song floated through the air, into my ear, and up to
my brain. It was a song from a commercial that had already played a hundred
times but this time it made its way through my thoughts and into my mind.
The lyrics were "I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was young." For
some reason that stuck with me. Perhaps it is because that is a desire I
have often had as well. I have often wished I knew what I know now, when I
was young. It would have made those younger years so much happier. It would
have eased my stress, erased my worry, and given me a lot more peace back
then.
I found myself singing along to the song from the
commercial when suddenly I realized something: "I am still young." Sure this
body has been on this world for more than half a century now. Sure my hair
is silver and my face crinkles and wrinkles when I smile. Sure my body is
more achy than energetic these days. Yet, on the inside I am still young. On
the inside we are all forever young. Perhaps that is why the passage of
years on this globe feels so confusing to us at times. We remember our
childhoods like it was yesterday. We blink and the baby we once held in our
arms is now as tall as we are. We look in the mirror and suddenly there is
an old person staring back at us while we still feel like a twenty year old
on the inside.
I decided then to enjoy what I know now and to
stop regretting the years that have already passed. I still have a lot of
time ahead of me to share love, to choose joy, to help others, and to make
this world a better place. I still have an eternity of youth ahead of me to
do God’s will and to grow into the soul I was meant to be. May you too
realize that you are still young were it counts. May you too rejoice in the
wisdom life brings and love each day you are given here.
Joseph J. Mazzella
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.