Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I–finally—ordered “grown-up bookcases” to replace my college concrete block and board shelves. I carefully measured to maximize the shelf space and pictured how wonderful they’d look.
But I didn’t, not for one second, consider getting the bookcases from the driveway into my study.
The corner unit could not be maneuvered through the hall and into my room.
No way. No how. Nope!
I spent more than a day beating myself up. Why in the world didn’t I think of that problem? It is so obvious. Why in the world didn’t I ask my husband to look at it before placing the order? He would have seen the issue instantly. If only. If only.
Why am I so stupid?
If I stay focused on my error, I lose today’s opportunities. I know I have to find a way to move on. I need to switch from “if only” to “next time.”
I need to learn from my mistake so I don’t repeat it. That’s examining myself.
But then I need to capture that understanding and translate it into the future. Next time I am going to picture the entire process instead of just the desired end result. Next time I am going to ask my husband what he thinks before I place the order.
“…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
For more information about “if only” and “next time,” see pages 247-249 in When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready?
P.S. Thanks to the skill of others, the corner unit was taken apart and put back together in my study. And it looks great.
