What are the saddest words in the English language?

The saddest words in the English language? What about “If only...”? Or possibly “What might have been.”

We may have started out in life with high hopes and grand plans for success in our chosen career. Or we tried to make our way in sport or entertainment, but didn't make the grade. Or possibly we weren't too successful in our relationships.

Life hasn't been easy and we may have become disillusioned and settled for second best. Our dreams now faded and gathering dust in the recesses of our mind. Childish ambitions that were never realistic anyway. But if only.... this or that had happened, life would be so different.

But them's the breaks and we have to accept what life has thrown at us. Or do we?

It's never too late to retrain or do voluntary work that helps others. Or how about joining a sports club for the enjoyment of taking part, rather than just winning? And who knows what doors might open to find that true love?

It was Napoleon Hill who wrote in his best-selling book Think and Grow Rich "What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve" and whilst that is true, it takes effort and commitment. And of course it is never as easy as it seems or you read about in the lives of others. But nothing worthwhile was ever achieved easily.

If you want it enough, really, really want it and are prepared to work and work and work and sacrifice to achieve it, well who knows what you will accomplish? Certainly more than you will by doing nothing, or doing the same thing and expecting the result to be different. How dumb is that?

The best words? How about “Sorry”, or “Thank you”, or “I love you”? Which of us doesn't appreciate hearing those?

And they too are words that God longs to hear us speaking to Him. When we are genuinely sorry - for our wrongdoing, our sins, for when we let Him down – He is quick to let us know that He forgives us. After that, which one of us wouldn't express our gratitude and love for Him? Jesus is quoted as saying that He came to give people life, life in all its fullness. Now the life that He was talking about is measured differently from how the world measures success or happiness. When we become a Christian our priorities change and we see life through Jesus' eyes.

Of course there is no guarantee that everything in life will go smoothly for us, even when we become Christians. But we are likley to find new friends and priorities.

There is never any reason to say “If only I had become a Christian”, for whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can, now by accepting God's love.

The saddest words of all time? Well they have to be “Too late”!