Hindsight & Afterthoughts

They say that hindsight is 20/20. When we look back on things we've done or experienced it is so clear what we should have done or what we could have done. That's not really a negative, it's just one of those things in life that happens. Sometimes we just can't see clearly enough until time has distanced us from the situation and our emotions. 

Afterthought can be a powerful positive, too. We often think that the afterthought has a negative connotation. But I'm thinking that an afterthought can be powerful. It can catapult us into the next victory - even if it came out of a negative experience. Right now, I'm thinking an afterthought may just be an exclamation point on the end of an experience.

In Psalm 121:2, the writer says this. My help comes from the Lord... I'm pretty sure none of us have an argument against that. As caregivers, we rarely do what we do in our own strength, because quite frankly, it ran out a long time ago. Last week, we talked about verse 1 and how our help doesn't come from keeping religious festivals, like the annual journey to Jerusalem. Our strength as believers comes from God Himself. We can count on it!

The psalmist follows up this key phrase with an afterthought, a sort of emotional exclamation point to drive the point home to his own heart. My help comes from the Lord...who made the heavens and the earth!

It was like he wanted to remind himself that God was much bigger than whatever circumstances he was facing at the time. God is not constrained or restrained by our circumstances, He did create the heavens and the earth, after all! Perhaps the psalmist needed that afterthought to remind himself that the One who created all that we see and even what we cannot see made him too. Since our help comes from knowing that God - the Creator God - the Maker of heaven and earth - that's gotta be some big help stepping in to carry us through.

Today, I'll remind myself that God, the Creator, is helping me get through another day of caregiving. I'll tell myself that He didn't abandon me in time. Instead, He walks right into my here, my now, my circumstances and brings all that He is with Him. That God is helping me and giving me strength for today. And I will trust Him for my today. Will you join me?

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Affirmations for Caregivers

I wrote Affirmations for Caregivers because it was what I needed to hear! This 31-day journal includes 31 scripturally based affirmations. Each day, the affirmation is followed by a short writing prompt and a verse or two to read. I also have videos on YouTube that coincide with each day's affirmation.