Picture by Ken Roosenberg
I recently read an article from a
blog that I follow, that suggested that each of us should write a letter
to our future self. I thought at first that the idea was a bit crazy,
but the thought kept coming back to me so I decided to give it a try.
It wasn't long until I was writing as fast as I could. The thoughts and
ideas of my life reflections just kept flowing. So I am suggesting
that all of you give it a try, but I suggest one more step. After doing
this, spend some time talking to God and thanking him for your full
life.
Below is my letter to my future self in the year 2020. I hope it gets you thinking too.
To
my future self, Ken 2020
Hi Ken,
Well, it’s
currently Thanksgiving week in 2012 and by now it should be that time of year in
2020. I hope you are still around to
read this letter, but after all, none of us knows if we will even be around
tomorrow. God never makes any promises
about that, so hopefully you have learned to live life in the moment and
cherish each and every day as if it were your last. You have said many times that you wish we
could all learn that from the Swazi people.
They only worry about today, because they know God took care of them
yesterday, and they know he will take care of them today, and tomorrow, and so
on.
Hopefully
your parents are still living and in good health, but I know that would make
them 91-92 years old. That may not be
the case. If one or both of them are
gone I know that you miss them a lot but I am sure God helped you during this
difficult time. You will always feel a
void when they are gone, but I know you are so grateful to them for making you
the person that you are today. You were
very lucky to have such great parents and you owe your strong Christian
foundation to both of them.
So you turn
67 this year. That just doesn’t seem
possible. I know it sounds cliché, but
where did time go? It seems like such a
short time ago that you were looking up the aisle of the church, anxiously and
nervously waiting for your beautiful bride Janine, to come through those doors
at the back of the church. Do you still
remember that feeling like I do? Do you
remember the tears of joy flowing down your cheeks like a never-ending
river? Does your memory still allow you
to repeat the vows that you both memorized to say to each other? I still remember them, but I am only 59 years
old. You’re an old fart of 67! Sorry, I had to just put in that little
dig. I know each year we have more aches
and pains, but hopefully you and Janine are still in good health. I hope you are spending quality time together
and still following God’s plan for your life together. I also hope that you have continued to tell
her what a wonderful mother she has been to your children.
As I write
this you will soon be celebrating 40 years of marriage in 2013. How did that go? Did you take time to do the special things
that you thought about or did you let time slip away and forget to do
them? I hope you didn’t let this
opportunity slip away. You two have a
special bond and a relationship that few get to experience. I hope you showed her just how important this
marriage has been and will continue to be for all of your lives. Not many men can say that they are married to
the best mother, the best wife, the best lover, and most importantly your best
friend in life. You, my friend, have
truly been blessed by God in this marriage!
Speaking of
your special lives together, how are the kids and grand-kids? I hope life has been kind to all of
them. I hope both Kim and Jeff and Mark
and Sarah have continued their great lives together. I hope you have told all four of them how
proud you are of them as individuals and as couples. They are all great parents. I know you and Janine have worried a lot
about them over the years and their walk with the Lord. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew
6:25-27 and then verse 34. Here they
are;
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will
wear. Is not life more important than
food, and the body more important than clothes? 26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow
or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to
his life? 34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about itself. Each
day has enough trouble of its own.
Some
things you just need to leave in God’s hands and trust him that he will take
care of them. Anyway I am sure they are
all fine. Wow, I just thought of
something. Rachel will be 16 this
year! Annabelle and Maggie will be 15,
and Collin will be 12. That is enough to
knock you on your butt isn’t it? The
three girls would be old enough now.
Have you been able to convince them and their parents to let them go on
a mission trip with you and Janine? You
know it would be one of the best experiences in their lives. Hopefully that has happened, but if not,
don’t give up! Life-changing experiences
are few and far between. They’ll thank
you for it later.
I
know you have been feeling called to do more and more for the people of Swaziland. I hope God is using you to the fullest. I know you struggle with when is doing
enough, enough. I hope you and Janine as
well as New Hope Church
have continued to build relationships in Swaziland. You just never know when one of those people
or families that you have helped, will turn out to be some of those who changed
the course of Swaziland
for the better. Maybe if you are retired
now, you two could spend a few months at a time there, helping to make a
difference on the ground. I hope both of
your health permits that. If not I am
sure that God will show you other ways to make that difference.
Here
is one last thing about Swaziland. I hope you two, as well as New Hope Church
and AIM keep one thing as a priority in everything that you do there. Always remember that it is all about teaching
them to take care of themselves, how to support themselves, and about sharing
the love of Christ with them so they too can pass this on to their children and
grandchildren.
Here
are two very important lessons from the year 2012 that I hope you remembered. Remember the classes that Becky Bruckner
taught on the Spiritual Disciplines?
Even though you were disappointed in yourself that you did not dig into
this deep enough and long enough at the time of the classes, I hope you realize
that this is what your walk with the Lord is all about. Finally after all of your 59 years of life,
someone taught you what is really necessary to build your bond, your
friendship, and relationship with Jesus.
Thanks be to God, for leading Becky to teach this to you and
Janine. I hope it truly has made a
difference and that the two of you are practicing these important disciplines
both together and individually for it will strengthen your walk with the
Lord. The other important thing was the
class that Becky Bruckner taught on spiritual warfare. Don’t ever forget (Satan wouldn’t let you
anyway), that the closer your walk comes with God, the more Satan will attack
you. When this happens, call on Jesus
for help and he will provide you with the full armor of God.
Well,
that’s it for now from 2020. I know that
God has given you and Janine a full and wonderful life up until now and I am
sure that will continue throughout your life.
I know you two have been blessed with the best kids and their great
spouses, and four awesome grandchildren, all of whom you are both very, very
proud. We all want to live a long and
healthy life, but I know if today was your last day, that you are at peace with
it all and confident in your walk with the Lord. Don’t get me wrong, I know that you will
always have more work to do between you and God, but I am happy with where you
are with him in 2012 and I can only assume that your relationship has continued
to flourish.
God bless you and your family,
Ken Roosenberg of 2020
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