It Seems Like Yesterday

My birthday is this weekend.  This is my last one before hitting the half-century mark.  This certainly means that my life is, at least, half over if I live the same amount of time that my grandmother did.  There is one phrase that keeps popping up in my head, “It seems like just yesterday…”

It seems like just yesterday… that I was anxious to get off to college and get away from home.  I thought it would be so wonderful to get away from working the fruit trees and grape vines.  I had had enough of mowing our 5-acre yard.  We built a fish pond that my brother and I were sure was simply a job to do because, at the moment, there was nothing else to do.  It was exciting to get away.  Now, I think I’d like to go back to that simpler time.

It seems like yesterday… that I was graduating from college, preparing to marry the girl that made my heart race, and beginning my first job in Huntingdon, TN.  It seems like yesterday…that Stephanie was born and we soon moved to Arnold, MO.  It seems like yesterday…that Austin and Aubri (twins for those who don’t know) were born and causing me to lose an entire year of my life.  I really don’t remember much about their first year.

It seems like yesterday…that we all moved to Richmond.  I had crossed the magical 30 year mark that allows a preacher to gain automatic respect that he did not enjoy at age 29.  The 17 years that have followed seem like yesterday.

The problem with yesterday is that I can count the myriad of errors I have made and cannot reverse the consequences.  The point of yesterday is that I have learned so much that I hope to pass on to my children to help their future yesterdays be better.  The power of yesterday is what those yesterdays have set in motion for the present—children in college, child married, grandson Ezra, and for future, untold blessings.

All of these were made possible by yesterday.  So, I choose to think about the positive points of yesterdays long since gone.  I choose to think about the possibilities of yesterdays yet to be.  And, when I get to the end, I’m sure I will say, “It seems like yesterday…”

• Remain true to God's Word - 2 Timothy 2:15
• Grow in love and unity - 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
• Find greater joy in praising God - Psalms 117:1-2

If we love one another as a family, and serve each other with the spirit of peace, there are no limits to what we can do for the Lord.

May God bless each of us in His service.

The Elders
Richmond Congregation

Paul Alexander
Owen Barnes
Jack Hall
Joe Koger
John Mathis
Charlie Parsons
Paul Sowards

Sermon Topics

A.M. 

SPEAKER:  JACK HALL

P.M. 

SPEAKER:  JACK HALL