Lost intentions

Last week I was reminded of something I had intended to do but never did.  Because I never did follow my intentions with actions I had failed someone in their time of need.

It never feels good to fail.  Ever.

We expect others to judge us by our intentions yet we judge others by their actions.  Truth be told your intentions do not matter as much as your actions.  Why then can we continue to have good intentions but fail to follow them with good actions?

I believe it is because of something in our past.  Something we keep staring back at that seems to be glaring right back at us along life's journey.

Lost intentions.

Lost intentions are those intentions that we failed to act on. 
Lost intentions don't just go away either. 
Lost intentions pile up like garbage at a land fill or unrecycled, plastic water bottles. 

But unlike a land fill that is far away where we cannot see them, lost intentions are following us wherever we go.  It's as if our lost intentions are tied to our ankle and every single step we take we are reminded of them by their scraping of the ground we just walked on.

How do we handle these lost intentions?

Well, what is the best thing to do with unrecycled, plastic water bottles? 

Recycle them!

Take a look at your lost intentions.  What did you intend to do that you did not do?  Can you still do it?  Can you do what you intended to do with someone else or somewhere else?

Did you intend to share your faith with someone and didn't? 
Go share it with that same person if you can.  If not, then share it with another. 

Did you intend to hug your spouse and say you love him/her? 
Do it at the very next opportunity. 

Did you intend not to yell at your kids? 
Go apologize, ask for forgiveness and follow James advice and be "Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19)

Did you intend to give your best effort at work but didn't? 
Give your best the next day.

The truth about lost intentions is...
Lost intentions yesterday keep you from action today.

So with my failure of helping someone in their time of need and my lost intentions to be there for them in that time of need, do you know what I did?

You got it!  I recycled my lost intentions.  I went to that person's home and allowed them to share their hurt, and pain with me.  Then a few days later I sent them a card expressing how my heart ached for them and I would be available if they needed me.

What has come from that failure is a greater sensitivity in my life to follow up my intentions with actions sooner than later.  May you do the same.  And together we can do some recycling that will change lives far greater and longer lasting than anything ever recycled before!