Big mistakes most often are the end result of a series of smaller mistakes and poor decisions. A bank robber, for example, is usually not someone who walks into his bank to make a deposit into his Christmas Club account and decides while he's there to ask the teller to hand over all the money in the drawer. I think it's reasonable to say, in most cases, a thief is someone whose thought process leads him to believe, for whatever reason, honesty may not be the best policy, and eventually, once he has opened the door to dwelling on what may seem like an easy solution to his problems, he becomes convinced committing a crime is either justified or that he won't get caught.
I'm hoping no one reading this is contemplating a life of crime, but I know there are those who have reached places in life where they would rather not be and wondered how they got where they are. Barring outside interference from tragic events or circumstances beyond our control, all of us have arrived at where we are in life, for better or worse, one step at a time. Dysfunctional relationships, poor health and unhappiness don't just happen overnight. Those are the kinds of things which gradually take shape over the course of weeks, months and years and are based on the choices we make. Even though we're not bank robbers, our choices do catch up with us.
The good news is, life is not a one-way street. We're not trapped by our poor decisions, and thankfully, it's never too late to turn around and take steps to start over. Relationships can be mended by commitment to working, unselfishly, on what has gone wrong. Health can be improved by eating right and becoming more active and less stressed. Happiness is a choice to change poor attitudes. I never want to trivialize any bad situation anyone is going through, but I do want to encourage all of us to look within for solutions, to the love of God which resides in believers, rather than looking to others to fix our problems.
Scripture often talks about the "putting on" of positive qualities and the "putting away" of negative traits. Just like we get dressed for the day, one piece of clothing at a time, we put on good decisions, one on top of another, as we work toward a fulfilled and productive life.
Sister Terry, someone once told me that "God never gives us more than we can handle." I was rather skeptical but have to agree that, except in extreme cases, a positive attitude can propel us above 99% of our problems. I had to visit state welfare agencies this past week on behalf of the Grand-Girls. This followed a lengthy debate with Joy about possibly stretching the truth a little bit to help ensure the Grand Girls could stay on Medicaid. While driving to the agency, the Ozark Uncle heard himself saying a prayer: "Lord, let me be part of the solution--not part of the problem." He went in and laid all the facts before the case worker, and we'll see what happens, and he's prepared for either result--Medicaid or no Medicaid.
ReplyDeleteA positive attitude doesn't "solve" everything, as we've both lived long enough to know, but it makes more sense, actually, than giving into a negative attitude, because a negative attitude doesn't help at all!
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, as a brief foray into politics, isn't it a shame people (children, in particular) can't have access to at least some kind of reasonable healthcare in this country? My husband is the only one in our family who even has health insurance, and I can't be added to his plan through his workplace policy. Our daughter and son-in-law are students, grandson would probably qualify for Medicaid except they are all living with us at the moment, so all of our household income would need to be counted, I'm sure. (Even though that wouldn't get any of us very far into the healthcare system, as it currently stands.)
Sigh. There's got to be an answer -- I'm just sure of it! (For us, it's always been a lot of reliance on Dr. Jesus. I smile when I say that, but it's true.)