C is for Choices

Choices. Choices are part of life.

Some choices are simple and easy and in part defined by age.

Should I have Raisin Bran or Fruity Pebbles?

I know what I would choose – and what my 10 year old would choose.

Some choices offer benefits either way.

Go out with a friend or relax with a good book?

It’s a tougher decision, but I can’t go wrong.

Some choices are tempting but obvious.

Sit on the couch with a box chips or go for that run?

Actually…I’m not sure on this one. Which would YOU choose? 😉

Some choices have realities hidden by society.

Have an abortion? It’s just a fetus.

Or let this smiling, moving, thinking, feeling “fetus” change the world?

Some choices society excuses saying, “He was unhappy.” – when he instead should have said,

“Should I go to that bar, start that flirtation, have an affair, leave my family?

Or can I find the good in my situation, change myself, fall in love with my family again?”

When a spouse chooses to leave, the other spouse is left with choices too.

Should I work two jobs or go on social services?

Before realizing two jobs still can’t pay the bills, but social services kills the soul.

When a parent walks out – mother or father –  the remaining parent left with unwanted choices.

Should I buy milk or put gas in the car?

Should I date or take time to heal my heart?

We were never meant to carry the burden of parenthood alone, but decisions should never be made out of desperation or because you feel not-good-enough – You Are!

When a relationship ends, especially when it is one we had such high hopes for, put our hearts and souls into, and wanted to continue forever, we may feel powerless, like we have been robbed of the freedom of choice, and it can seem like we are left with nothing but hurtful choices,

but, in truth, we have other options.

We can point fingers at the leaver or we can examine ourselves and what we could have done differently and practice using that insight before getting into another relationship.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove that splinter for your eye,”
while the wooden beam is in your own eye?
You hypocrite, – remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
Then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye

Matthew  7: 3-5

We can live in anger and bitterness, letting the betrayal weigh us down for eternity, or we can choose forgiveness and love and peace.

Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5: 16

We can choose to greet each day with a smile, anticipating the good all around us, expecting the Lord’s blessings – even when they seem far away

or we can choose to not.

We can’t choose everything that happens to us, but everything that happens leads to another choice we can make, another outlook we can adopt.

Choices are part of the gift of free will. We all, ALWAYS, have choices.

• What choices are hardest for you to make or keep?
• How will you let free will influence your choice?
• What are unexpected consequences of your decisions?
• What is holding you back from recognizing new paths open to you?

God Bless…