Introduction: Hold Your Horses!

Now, before you get all in a tizzy about changing the past like Marty McFly from Back to the Future, hear me out. You know, folks, when someone asks an old gal like me, “Mary, what would you change about your past if you had the chance?” I just about laugh out loud. After all, what kind of nonsense is that? But since we’re diving headfirst into this sea of imaginary nonsense, let’s have a bit of fun, shall we?

The Time I Burned Thanksgiving Dinner

Let’s mosey on down memory lane to a fateful Thanksgiving dinner circa 1975. Picture this: a young Mary, determined to impress her new in-laws with a perfect roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, the works. Everything was going splendidly until I, in typical Mary fashion, forgot to set the oven timer. Long story short, I served what resembled a charcoal briquette rather than a turkey. If I had a time machine, I might go back and remind myself to set the dang timer. Though let’s be honest, the ensuing laughter and stories have provided plenty of holiday entertainment for decades.

When I Met the Love of My Life

Now, this one might surprise you, but if I could change one thing, I wouldn’t amend a single moment about meeting John, my late husband. Oh, the drama! The giddy wonderful drama of our first encounter back in 1963 at the church picnic. He practically dumped a bowl of coleslaw on my new dress, but in hindsight, how romantic is that? I wouldn’t change him or our clumsy start for the world, as it led to fifty years of love, laughter, and bickering over whose turn it was to take out the trash.

That Time I Got Lost in Kansas

Another one for the ‘wouldn’t change a darn thing’ files: the summer road trip of 1982, when John and I got hopelessly lost in the heart of Kansas. No GPS back then, folks! We argued over directions, missed our motel reservation, and ended up sleeping in the car. But you know what else came out of that spontaneous detour? A sky full of stars, reminding us how small we are and how big God’s creation is. Plus, we managed to find a quaint little church the next morning for Sunday service, and weren’t those folks just the sweetest?

The Great Church Bake-Off Disaster

How could I forget the Great Church Bake-Off when, bless my goofy heart, I mixed up sugar and salt in my famous chocolate chip cookies? The look on everyone’s faces when they bit into those salty abominations could’ve won America’s Funniest Home Videos if we’d had a camera rolling! But then there’s the lesson in humility, the shared laughs and forgiveness—a reminder that our worth isn’t in our works but in how we love and support each other.

The Call of Family and Duty

Let’s dig into a more serious moment. There was a time when John and I were just scraping by, and an enticing job offer came my way that would have uprooted us from our hometown. We prayed hard about it and ultimately decided family ties and our beloved community were more important than a fancy paycheck. I’ve often wondered ‘what if?’ but I’ve never regretted staying put. Our decision solidified our bonds, both with each other and with our town, which came together to support each other in ways money just can’t buy.

The Miracle of Ordinary Time

Life’s a funny thing, folks. We spend so much time planning for the next big thing that we sometimes overlook the ordinary moments—the Tuesday afternoons, the weekly trips to the store, the simple suppers and Sunday services—that shape who we are. If I had a time machine, I’d go back and savor every single one of those mundane days a little more deeply, appreciating the rhythm and the grace that comes with them.

Conclusion: Live and Learn (and Laugh)

So, after this little journey into the woulda-coulda-shoulda moments of my life, what would I truly change? Nothing, my dear friends, nothing at all. All those missteps and follies, they’re the stitchings of this beautiful tapestry we call life. Sure, in the heat of the moment, I might’ve wanted to crawl under a rock and disappear. But from where I’m standing now, those moments of failure, embarrassment, and redirection are the very threads that make life so darn interesting.

So the next time you find yourself reminiscing about that one colossal mistake, remember: life is a magnificent patchwork of oopsies and victories. They all have their place. Embrace your mistakes. Laugh at them, learn from them, and let them remind you that we’re all just human beings doing our best to navigate this winding road. And, as always, trust in God’s plan, for He turns all things to good, even those charcoal turkeys and salty cookies.

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