Inspired by lyrics to “What I Hold Onto” by Sue Riley & Melinda Wood Allen
“With the hard-earned wisdom I have now, I wouldn’t do again what my old self would allow.
Letting go of all the blame and heartache, now I see. I’m getting closer to a new, more peaceful me.
I’m holding on to what I want to keep. I feel lighter, I sleep better, its love that’s holding me.
Now I can stand back and see: The past is the past, but the future’s up to me.
What I hold on to holds on to me. Resentments I carried wouldn’t let me be free.
My new religion is live and let be. What I hold on to holds onto me.”
Responsive Reading for Sunday, November 4
“Do not let the sun set on your anger . . . . All bitterness, fury, anger, . . . must be removed from you . . . . And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ” (Ephesians 4:26-32).
“I’m getting closer to a new, more peaceful me. I’m holding on to what I want to keep. I feel lighter, I sleep better. It’s love that’s holding me.”
“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; . . . If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Matthew 6:12-14).
“With the hard-earned wisdom I have now, I wouldn’t do again what my old self would allow.”
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-2).
“Now I can stand back and see, the past is the past, but the future’s up to me.”
“Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14).
“My new religion is live and let be. What I hold on to holds on to me.”