"The Choice"

Right now, at the start of a new day, I stand a fork in the road. One path leads to serenity, gratitude and hope and the other path leads to just the opposite. Too often I fall into the trap of assuming I have no choice. That is an easy trap to fall into in a society that encourages us to blame others, our circumstances and even God for the path we take. However, the reality is, each day the choice is mine. To be honest, yesterday, I chose the wrong path. I chose to go down the path of focusing on the negative, wallowing in self-pity and half way through the day I had a stress headache the size of Texas. O, yes, what a joyous day I chose.

That evening as I walked into the door of our home, I breathed a simple, yet desperate prayer, "Father, help me not to bring my bad day home. They don't deserve it." (That's the great things about the choice; you can change paths at any time). Right then I heard a little voice cry out, "Da-dee" followed by the sound of little feet on the linoleum floor. My son, who tends to be more like me when it comes to hugs--that is to say he is not real big on them--threw his arms around my legs and squeezed as tight as he could. It was like God cleansed me from my negative choice and gave me a new start even though the day was nearly over.

That is what God does for all of us at the start of each new day. He gives us a new opportunity to choose for this day. We can blame others, our circumstances and even God, but the hard truth is the path we find ourselves on each day is really our choice. Others don't have the power to "make me have a bad day". Circumstances do not have the power to "ruin my day." Even God has limited himself of that power as he loves and respects us so much that he will never violate our will even if that means letting us choose a path that takes us away from Him.

So, today, by God's grace and fully dependent on his help, I choose life.

I choose to let go of yesterday...what's done is done and me holding onto it does not do me or anyone else any good.

I choose to let go of what may or may not be tomorrow...I neither know the future or am guaranteed it, so I might as well fully embrace what I do know and what I do have and that is now.

I choose to speak what is possible with God rather than dwell on what is impossible without God.

I choose to forgive before anyone does anything to offend me knowing that I will need as much forgiveness as anyone else today.

I choose not to expect perfection of myself or others and in that way we will all be a little more free.

I choose to give myself permission to enjoy the little things God will send my way today rather than miss them in my insistence on being sour.

I choose to let God lead me rather than everything else in this world that will lead me if I do not choose Him.

I choose to let God show me at any point and in any way today when I begin to get off course and head back to doubt, cynicism and negativity.

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life..." Deuteronomy 30: 19-20.

What's it going to be today? Life or death? Blessings or curses? The choice is ours!