Hitching post vs guiding post
We regret past decisions or actions typically because we were selfish or stubborn or prideful. It was about me not about them. Or we did it without a consideration of God’s will or laws. Our pride or selfishness can cause us to dig a deeper hole for ourselves oftentimes making it more difficult to gut it up and reconcile. But reconciliation is a huge step towards healing and burying regret in that deep hole we have dug. The longer we carry the burden of regret the heavier the burden becomes. Regret can seriously damage our mental and spiritual health. It is ever mindful and only wields negative power upon us. Regret is not a tool of God’s but of the other. God wants us to reconcile and be free of this burden. Love the other as much or more than ourselves is the key God has given us. Humility is a major ingredient as is contrition, but Love is an even more important ingredient. How do we reconcile? Honestly we do know how but doing it is different than just knowing how. A recipe for overcoming Regret usually begins with the ingredient of forgiving oneself with the commitment to make things right. “I am sorry” is a great beginning when addressing the person that we have struggled with. “I am sorry” says to the other person that they are more important to you than the issue that created the struggle. Telling them that puts you and them on the mend and pushes off that burden of regret. Complete openness and honesty communicates a great deal. It often communicates to the other person that you have exposed yourself to their hurt but you want the relationship with them to be long term and to continue. I heard it said that love and suffering go together. The more you love, the more you expose yourself to suffering. But love is what matters most. Pushing through troubled times is like welding a broken steel part. The weld makes it stronger. So does reconciliation. It make you and your relationship stronger.