What are you holding on to?

How is your life going? Robert was feeling good. Everything in his world seemed to be hunky dory for the moment. He owned a farm, was happily married and had two children. Robert was a fun person to be around and very kindhearted. Amid his happiness, though, a weight hung on his shoulders like a heavy backpack.

Regardless of how hard he tried, he could never drop the load. Robert's steps became slower and slower as time went on. The weight continued.

During his younger years, a brother-in-law, Paul, and Robert parted company because of a dispute over property ownership. Robert felt that Paul cheated him out of some land he deserved. The brothers-in-law never settled their feelings over the incident.

Because of the dispute between the two men, the two sisters also became alienated for years. What a waste of time and human love!

Most people have been guilty of holding on to an amount of grudges, until they learn better. At least, you've held onto the debilitating emotional effects of an unsuccessful venture. Maybe you've held on to a yearning for the past.

Holding on to the past is unhealthy. When you dwell on something that's past, you can't move on with your life. You, too, are holding on to a heavy weight you can never lay down until you know the cause.

Anger or anything emotionally disturbing and undesirable drains you of energy and joyfulness. Even though you may think nothing is holding you back, look within.

Many derive great pleasure in delving into the past. Unless you can gain some sort of benefit from the memories, they are best forgotten. Trying to live in the past only keeps you from living life in the present. Have you ever noticed how a perfectly beautiful mood can be stolen by something your thoughts have dredged up from the past -- even so near as yesterday?

Paul advises the Phillippians, "But one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me, heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phillippians 3:13-14).

Jim delights in watching old movies, talking about his former position on the high-school basketball team and, in general, living in the past. He does little to add to a life in the present. He relishes in living in his dreams, the dreams of long ago.

A reasonable amount of reminiscing can bring you happiness. It also can bring sadness. The past is gone and never can be regained. The present and hope for the future are at your disposal.

Lots of elderly or physically and mentally challenged individuals hold on to how they used to be, and they keep the present and future from being inviting.

They refuse to adjust to their current circumstances. It's like it's a victory to cling to the past, and they keep carrying that heavy load of what never can be again each day.

Perhaps your past behavior has been less than you are proud of. Forget it and move ahead.

Living in the past causes one to worry, to worry about the present and the future. You will have to fill those empty spaces in your life with something to take the place of what consumes your mind, now -- whatever heavy load is holding you back.

Perhaps you're starting a new job after failing at your last. You're allowing that weight of fear to keep you from being your best now.

If you want to remember the past, recall the things that brought you feelings of success and of what Jesus did for you. Then your load will become lighter and lighter, and you will leap forward with gladness. You will truly run rather than walk.

Few carry no burdens, but you deal with them and lay the heaviness upon God's shoulders. Refuse to be a victim of the past. Instead, press on, forgetting what's behind.