A green fire hydrant sitting on the side of a road

Yesterday I Turned Back Time

Yesterday I turned back time. Really! I reset my lawn sprinkler timer, which was more than an hour off. It was surreal to watch the numbers go backward—so much so that when I reached the desired time, I didn’t stop. I let it go back a full 24 hours, one hour at a time.

A fire hydrant sitting on the side of a road

 

As the numbers counted backward, I let my mind wander. If I could, would I want to re-live the time that has passed? Would I want to put my life on rewind?

Re-think, re-do, re-live?

At first, the idea was exhilarating. I would get another chance to accept or reject all those credit card offers that brought me to my knees. Having the chance to apply all that I know now to my life the way it was then—surely that would change the course of my life dramatically.

But the more I thought, the more I rejected the idea. If I couldn’t do things perfectly the first time around, would I get it right the second time? Or would I want a third, fourth, or even fifth try? Knowing me, that would be a real problem; I’d get stuck in an endless loop of trying to live life perfectly.

As ashamed as I am about all the boneheaded decisions I made and things that I did, and as much as I might want to have a chance to right those wrongs, everything that has happened in my life brings me to the place where I am right now.

While I may not be proud of each individual choice I’ve made, the choices are woven together into an intricate pattern, a tapestry that is my life.

Life is like a tapestry

Just like any piece of stitchery, a tapestry has a wrong side and a right side. The back is where all the knots and mixed-up threads hide. When you turn it over, it can be amazing to see how all of those random pieces of thread work together to become something beautiful.

I couldn’t help but think about the beautiful word “redemption”—the act of buying back or repurchasing something that has been pawned or mortgaged. As I repaid the horrific debt I ran up so many years ago, I got my life back one dollar at a time. I realized full redemption when the debt was fully repaid.

Back to reality

I finally got the sprinkler’s clock set correctly. With great relief, I shut the little door and walked away, in real time. I walked into a new day, an unspoiled 24 hours. It was an opportunity to do things right, to make good choices and wise decisions.

We don’t have to turn back time to clean the slate. That’s what we do every morning. Today, make your clean slate count. Make this a day filled with joy and wise decisions that never will make you wish you could turn back time.


 

 

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  1. Elizabeth says:

    I was married to a mentally il
    man ,had 4 children and in the70s women didn’t have credit . I supported my family by taking in ironing,cleaning neighbors houses, upholstering furniture,so I could be home with my children and be able to feed them. We ate a lot of hamburger,oat meal,and even spaghetti with tuna .I used salvation army for needs I couldn’t find on trash days.we knew when to check areas that had good things we could remake or salvage for our use. My kids were my reason to overcome and faith and a sence of humor helped. We didn’t get any f inancial help but learned that we had skills or just guts to try and survive My husband was physical abusI’ve and destroyed everything ,when he left. We didn’t know what steak was or travel or vacation but my kids excelled in school sports and grades. They earned scholarships to college. They worked after school and through summers to pay for what I couldn’t give them. They were able to overcome life’s many challages later because they used our earlier years as learning experiences rather then excuses to complain or blame.,or do bad. I’m in my 80s ,my body is rickety due to the accident I was married to, my children are absolutely awesome . I still am very frugal . God gave me ways to overcome and I count my blessings every night .Its amazing what you can learn about yourself and what talents are hidden inside. Believe
    .

    Reply
  2. Chris says:

    It was a wonderful day when I discovered your column. You have truly been a blessing to me. Although I haven’t experienced a lot of debt in my life I too have carried a different kind of load. Married young and had three children. A kid raising kids. A challenge I shall never forget. Now l find myself an older widowed woman. I have a lot of faith and will use my brain and brawn to see me through.

    Reply
  3. Christine says:

    Mary – I would like to challenge you to reduce your water use. Your article about not using paper towels by using the power of scarcity, could be applied to irrigation systems. Whereas each of us collectively contribute to global warming, every little bit helps.

    Reply
  4. Sandy Johnson says:

    Thank you Mary!! This post was such a revelation for me. I have made some horrific money decisions, and I carry the guilt with me every single day even though I am in a good place now, financially. Reading this helped me realize I must let it go!!!!!

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      So happy to know this resonated with you! I’ll bet yours is a very beautiful tapestry—a testament to God’s grace and daily beginnings.

      Reply
  5. Sandra C Wegmann says:

    My mother (who had been married three times and had a checkered past) used to say “Never look so far forward that you cannot see how far you’ve come”…..

    Reply
  6. Lynn says:

    That’s what I like about you. You are so real and honest. That’s why I have followed your books, columns and now website since 1998. Thank you. I will now look at each day as a “clean slate”.

    Reply
  7. Jean Marshall says:

    Well, said. I feel grateful each morning for a new day before me. I feel hopeful that I can do better. I like the scripture “This the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.” Psalms 118:24. And I have it framed in my bedroom. My mother always had a Kahlil Gibran quote framed on the wall, and I do too–“Awake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”
    Good reminders.
    JM

    Reply
  8. Annie says:

    My husband and I have often talked about re-do’s on life. Looking at our past there are two many memories we might not get on a re-do. Life is life and time marches on. All of my mistakes made me stronger even the ones that sometimes make me whince and cringe.
    Your blog is worthwhile and I am glad to read it daily.

    Reply
  9. Linda Radosevich says:

    Thank you, Mary, for sharing your goofs and the insights you learned. If we didn’t make those mistakes, we wouldn’t be who we are today. ‘Everything has a purpose under Heaven.’

    Reply
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