FAMILIES SHARING HOPE
  • Blog
  • Resource Links
  • Books
    • News to Make You Weep
  • Prayer Requests
  • Contact
  • Connecting with Community

choices

5/18/2015

0 Comments

 
The tree in my side yard budded out but has not leafed out. What a bummer. This little tree's roots have anchored a sloped area of our yard and so it really must be replaced soon.

We live beside a wooded area so there are plenty of other trees for the birds and squirrels to nurture their small families this spring and, while it was a nice enough tree, it was not particularly spectacular. But I do hate to loose a tree. We either plant a "fast growing tree" (which is only fast by comparison to long-growth trees after all) or we go for a longer lasting tree that we can assume will be a legacy for a future owner.

This is like a lot of decisions we face whether replacing an appliance or buying a car or looking for a job. How long? How much? Where? When? And all we can do is make the best decisions we can make based on our current information and then do our best not to waste time second guessing our decisions.

It seems to me that, while the amount of time and energy we spend on gathering facts before a decision varies by the seriousness of the matter being considered, in the end we never know how any particular decision will turn out. But I have been surprised and delighted to realize that even when I think I have made a mistake or taken a wrong turn, God is already where I am going and the lessons I learn along the way, including from the "mistakes," wind up being really valuable at a later point in my journey.

This what I long to see painted in a large mural in the biggest common area of every jail and prison. "Your past choices only restrict your capacity to make better choices if you let them."  But I need it posted around my house too. That does not mean we have no responsibility to make the best choices we can. It only means that God is bigger than any mistake I can make.

Watching someone I love sliding down the slippery slope of self-will-run-riot is the most frightening experience I have ever had, but fortunately for all of us involved, God is bigger than the problem, bigger than my fears and bigger than the challenges facing my incarcerated loved one.

Sleep well tonight, my friend. God did not leave either you or I in charge.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    CHECK IT OUT:
    BOOKS TAB 
    ​News Tab


    For information on meetings use the "contact" button above or call Jann @ 816-896-9815


    Author

    Jann's son was incarcerated.  She longed for a community where she could connect with others dealing with similar issues.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    April 2022
    March 2022
    July 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.