What would you go back to get? As for me, I always go back for food. Good examples of this are: turkey and dressing, fried okra and pinto beans, and just about anything chocolate. Then there are other things that I have to go back for because I forgot them. My mom has always said that happens because I’m in too much of a hurry. While she’s right, let’s just say the fruit doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
When I was twelve years old, I wore braces. One day I had an orthodontist appointment at 3:15. Mom and I knew we would be pushed to get there on time. She worked until 2:30 and t took a little over ten minutes for her to get home. Then we had to go all the way to Fountain City. As soon as she got home that day, she ran inside for a second and then we left. Next door, Papaw was working out in his yard. We waved at him as we jumped in the car and drove away. When we reached the stop sign down the road, Mom said: “Dad blame! I left my purse on the kitchen counter.” She turned around and we headed back to the house. Papaw was still outside. Mom grabbed her purse and we waved at him as we left a second time.
Then I had a realization when we reached the stop sign again. “I left my head gear in my bedroom.” The orthodontist required it for each appointment. If I didn’t have it, he wouldn’t see me. Mom turned around and we went back home. She didn’t even turn off the car as I went inside and grabbed my head gear. We waved at Papaw again as Mom spun out of the driveway. I know we had to throw some rocks. For the third time, we reached the stop sign. “Dad blame! I need to make a payment on your braces and I left the checkbook at home.” With that, Mom turned around and went back home. Papaw was still outside. He hollered at us: “What in the world did you all forget this time?”
“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:26 (KJV)
This story fascinated me as a child. In Sunday school, we were told the lesson was to always obey The Lord. I have heard others say the lesson was also not to look back. I don’t totally agree with that. I have to look back in order to write my articles. I have even used some of my past experiences in my books. I think God doesn’t want us look back on the things from which He has delivered us. That is over and we need to press forward and onward into His Will for our lives.
A few years ago, I was working at a part time job. One morning, I was running a little behind, so I rushed through my morning routine. After I got to work, I couldn’t remember if I had locked the basement door after I walked Roxy. I didn’t want anybody to able to walk into my house, so there was only one thing to do. I asked my supervisor if I could go home and check it. He was kind enough to let me. Immediately I clocked out and drove back home. I ran down the basement stairs. By the Grace of God, I didn’t fall down them. To my relief, it was locked. I ran back up the stairs, jumped into my car, and headed back to work. I was almost there when I had the thought: “Did I close the garage door?” I turned around and went back to the house. Yep, I had closed it. In fact, Tim and I turn around go back quite often. I wonder how many of our neighbors think: “What in the world did they forget this time?”