PEACE: Serenity in knowing when to press ‘release’

BY KIMBERLY BAILEY-TUREAUD

Do you remember the time?” 

That time when we were children, when everything seemed new and full of wonder. Our experiences sparked our imaginations, our creative spirits flourished, and every trip outside became an adventure. For many of us, those carefree moments filled our hearts and minds with joy. Even today, we often revisit those memories because they bring us comfort and peace. 

The treasure chest of our minds was filled with the freedom to dream. We dreamed about who we wanted to become and looked forward to life’s simple pleasures — getting home before the streetlights came on or enjoying Mama’s home-cooked meal that nourished not only our bodies but also our souls. We felt good. Gathering with family to watch favorite television shows like “Good Times,” “Sanford and Son,” “The Mod Squad,” “Mission: Impossible,” and “Soul Train” lifted our spirits and fueled our imaginations in ways that felt magical. 

There were indeed many good times. The fears and anxieties placed upon us by society often came later, shaped by expectations, disappointments, and life’s challenges. Even now, people may tell you, “Forget your past and move on.” But there is value in holding on to the memories that remind us of joy, innocence, and hope. Those treasured moments can quiet our fears and rekindle the curiosity that once inspired us to discover new paths and dream without limits. 

It is a gift to preserve the memories that fill our hearts with love and joy and to use them as fuel to overcome life’s obstacles. At the same time, we must release the memories that keep us trapped in darkness, negativity, and stagnation. As children, we would leave the hallway light on to chase away nightmares. Even then, we learned to seek the light when fear surrounded us. 

Those early lessons became tools that helped us survive and grow into the people we are today. 

The child within each of us still carries those valuable tools — faith, imagination, resilience, forgiveness, and hope. The challenge of adulthood is not holding on to pain but learning when to let it go. Scripture reminds us of this truth: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19). 

Just as we instinctively swerve to avoid an obstacle in the road, we must also learn the spiritual art of releasing whatever threatens our growth. Letting go is not weakness; it is wisdom. It is an act of faith that allows God to lead us into the future He has prepared. Sometimes the hardest thing to release is not another person or a painful circumstance — it is the old version of ourselves. 

As we move forward, let us cherish the memories that strengthen us, trust God with the ones that burden us, and embrace the freedom that comes from letting go. Sometimes God’s greatest work begins the moment we release what no longer belongs in our hands.