We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host

The soft glow of the afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. Outside, the world was in its usual motion — cars passing by, distant conversations, the gentle hum of life continuing its course. Inside, the room was a refuge of quiet, filled only with the occasional sound of pages turning or the clink of a cup being set down.

Jack sat at the small table by the window, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of his coffee cup. His eyes were focused on something far beyond the view outside, lost in thought. The weight of the day seemed to have caught up with him, his thoughts scattered, unsure of where they wanted to land.

Jeeny sat nearby, a book resting in her lap, but her focus was on him. She could sense the quiet tension in the air, a weight he was carrying, though he hadn’t yet put words to it. The space between them felt full, as if something needed to be said, but neither knew where to begin.

Host: The room felt thick with the unspoken, waiting for the right words to break through.

Jeeny: Her voice broke the silence, soft and gentle, but filled with intent. “Jack, I came across a quote today that made me think of you. It’s from Joseph B. Wirthlin. He said, ‘We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: His eyes shifted to meet hers, the weight of the words slowly settling in. He looked down at his coffee, the steam rising softly from the cup. “I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately, you know? About how we measure time — about how we see our lives. We get so wrapped up in the past, in yesterday’s mistakes, or today’s challenges, that it’s easy to forget about the bigger picture.”

He exhaled slowly, a small sigh escaping his lips. “It’s like we define ourselves by what’s happened already, or by what’s happening now. But we rarely see ourselves in terms of forever, in terms of how everything we experience fits into something larger than we can imagine.”

Jeeny: She leaned forward slightly, her voice thoughtful, but filled with warmth. “Exactly. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, in the challenges of now, but I think what Wirthlin is saying is that we are so much more than just today or yesterday. Our experiences, our struggles, and even our mistakes are just small pieces in the larger story of who we are.”

Her voice softened, almost as if speaking from her own experience. “When we see ourselves through the lens of eternity, we start to understand that our value isn’t based on our failures or the weight of the moment. We are part of a much bigger plan, one that extends beyond the immediate to the forever.”

Jack: He nodded slowly, his gaze deepening as he absorbed her words. “It’s hard to think that way sometimes. I get so caught up in what’s right in front of me — the next task, the next challenge. It’s easy to forget that there’s more to the story, that we’re not just defined by our present circumstances.”

He leaned back in his chair, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe that’s the part I’ve been missing. We see our struggles, our limitations, and we think that’s all we are. But there’s a larger perspective, one that takes into account who we’re becoming, not just where we are now.”

Jeeny: She smiled softly, her eyes filled with understanding. “Exactly. And when we start to see ourselves in terms of forever, we realize that our current struggles don’t define us. They’re just part of the process. Our Heavenly Father sees us for what we can become, not just for where we are right now. And that’s a much kinder, more hopeful way of seeing ourselves.”

Her voice softened, almost like a whisper of reassurance. “When we see ourselves from that perspective, it allows us to give ourselves grace, to acknowledge that we’re always growing, always changing. We’re not stuck in the past or trapped in today’s mistakes. There’s a future ahead of us, one that’s full of potential.”

Jack: His expression softened, and he looked down at his hands, the weight of the conversation settling into something lighter, more peaceful. “You’re right. Maybe that’s where the peace comes from — in seeing ourselves not just as we are, but as who we’re meant to become. There’s a sense of freedom in that. It’s not about being perfect today, but about being forgiven, and knowing that we have a chance to grow.”

He exhaled slowly, the tension he’d been holding lifting with the release. “It’s about understanding that today is just one small step in a much bigger journey, and there’s more ahead than we can see right now.”

Jeeny: Her smile deepened, her eyes soft with understanding. “Exactly. It’s the journey, not just the moment. And when we start to see ourselves through that lens — the lens of eternity, of possibility, of growth — it changes everything. It changes how we handle the struggles, how we approach each day, and how we see ourselves in the grand scheme of it all.”

Host: The room felt quieter now, the air filled with a gentle sense of clarity, as if both of them had shifted, just a little, in their understanding of the world. Outside, the world continued its usual rhythm, but inside, the conversation had opened up a new way of thinking — a new lens through which to view themselves and their place in the larger story.

Jack had begun to see the importance of looking beyond the present, beyond the weight of today’s struggles, and recognizing that his life was part of something much larger, much more profound. In seeing himself through the eyes of eternity, he could understand that his value wasn’t limited to what he had done, but was shaped by who he was becoming.

End Scene.