"I Want Yesterday"

Natalie Wood, along with Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, was one of the most glamorous and beautiful actresses ever to grace Hollywood. She starred in films in the 1950's and 1960's, in such movies as, "Rebel Without a Cause"; "West Side Story"; and "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice."

Her life was full of ups and downs, ending in tragedy in 1981, when she drowned in the ocean off Catalina island in California.

Todd Leopold, writer for CNN News, tells of an interview that Ms. Wood had not long before her untimely death. The interviewer asked her if she was satisfied with her life, having two children, a terrific husband, fame, money and beauty.

The question was asked, "What more could you possibly want?" Without hesitating, Ms. Wood answered, "I want yesterday."

All of us would like to have another "yesterday," would we not? Unfortunately, regrets are a part of the landscape of our lives. We've all said and done foolish things, which when reflected on, wish we had never said or done.

The wise thing to do, is to ask for God's forgiveness for those things, and then follow the inspired writer Paul's advice:".... forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind" (Philippians 3:13-15).

Dear reader, "fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2 NASB), will cause our "yesterdays" to soon fade away into insignificance, allowing us to set our mind on what's really important (Colossians 3:1-4; cf. Matthew 6:33).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets