If I could turn back time

Most of us know the ever popular song from the 80's "If I could turn back time"
If I could turn back time If I could find a way I'd take back those words that hurt you and you'd stay. I don't know why I did the things I did; I don't know why I said the things I said. Pride's like a knife it can cut deep inside. Words are like weapons they wound sometimes. I didn't really mean to hurt you, I didn't wanna see you go; I know I made you cry, but baby...
[Chorus:]If I could turn back time ,If I could find a way ,I'd take back those words that hurt you And you'd stay If I could reach the stars I'd give them all to you Then you'd love me, love me Like you used to doIf I could turn back time...
Often I find myself quoting the main line of this song in retrospect to wanting to go back and change things of my past and wishing I had listened to great speaker, parents, authoritative figures in my life because I wouldn't have made as many mistakes along the way if I had. Pride wouldn't have been such an issue, I wouldn't of made as many people cry along the way, My words like weapons would of become more healing then hurtful and people would maybe LOVE ME LOVE ME more . But alas, I can't. Thank the Lord that we can throw all of our past hurts, neglects, words, thoughts and wrongful actions at His feet and He wipes them out as far as the east is to the west and remembers them no more. He does though continue to give us instruction. In Proverbs 9:8-9 it says, "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, teach a righteous man...and he will increase in learning."
If there is one thing I can do NOW in life to make myself not look back ten years from now wishing I could turn back time, it would be, "to accelerate my spiritual growth and learn to take correction from the Spirit of God and from His people who were called to be the messengers of his Word.
It's so easy to listen when the preacher talks about something that "we already have going right in our life" because we feel we do not need change there, but when he/she begans speaking on something that we do falter in we get defensive and build up a wall. In proverbs 1:7 God says, "only fools strike out at, or despise correction.:" I sure don't wanna be labeled a fool in anyone's book, esp. God's. Now, crazy, goofy, quirky...I'll take that..but not foolish. I am endeavoring to go from here on out and listen intently to the spirits calling in my life and what He would have for me and if it means hearing some things that cause me to feel guilty or under conviction then so be it. It's a molding/chiseling process that we all should be GREATFUL God allows us to go through. He is just purifying us so we can come forth as GOLD.
someone once said, "If you think you've already arrived, then you aren't going anywhere" If you choose to stay where you are at then be prepared to be regretful in a few years. We ought to always be comparing ourselves with God and not others. I pray today that I would not be foolish, would take instruction well, and would size up my life/heart with the Heavenly Father and not the leaders of the church that we often put on unmountable pedastools.
If you want to bring a smile to your face along with someone else then remember to THANK THE PREACHER or the person who instructed you in your spiritual journey. If you do that you will come out ahead every time!