Decisions

How are you at making decisions?  Do you feel you do a good job?  Do you often make the decision NOT to decide?  :)  I think that is the way it is with many of us.  Ask anybody older than 4 if they have made any bad decisions and their answer will most likely be "Yes".  So if we make so many bad decisions, why don't we learn to be better decision makers? 

I don't like to make decisions if it involves the lives of others and sometimes I don't even like to make decisions for myself.  But not a day goes by that we aren't required to make a multitude of decisions.  Some are less important such as "what should I wear today?" and "what should we have for supper?".  Some are more important though: such as "what should be my career choice?", "should I get married?", or "should I have children?"  And in making the really important decisions, I think we sometimes act too quickly.  We sometimes don't even ponder on the situation we just come to a conclusion and follow it.  Have you ever done that?  I imagine you join me in having to say--Sure did!  My kids and my students know that I won't let them use the word "mistake" very often.  Because most things we label as mistakes were really bad decisions.  I could write for hours talking about some of those in my life.  If you misspell a word--that is a mistake.  But those big life altering things that went awry--just bad decisions.  Sounds harsh, I know.  But when you really think about it honestly, isn't that the truth?

So is there a way we can avoid making even more bad decisions?  Yes.  Is it something difficult to do?  No.  It is really very simple.  When the time arises to make those really big decisions there are just a few steps to take.  Read your Bible for God's instructions, pray and give Him time to answer, and measure everything against what He has told you to do.  See how simple that is?  Yeah, I know------easier said than done!!  I just keep thinking of so many things I would have done differently if I had just followed the steps. (Probably not those things I listed earlier--I have a great job, I am still pretty satisfied with my marriage partner ;), and I wouldn't trade my two knot-headed boys for anything.)  But there are other things I would have done differently.  And yes, I know that everything I've gone through to this point has made me who I am today.  And no, I will not live my life in the past filled with regrets.  BUT--I wish, I WISH I had done some things much differently.

The good news is that I can follow these steps in all of the decisions that await me as time goes by.  But more than that, I hope that someone else--whether younger or older--will read these words and consider them when they are making decisions down the road.  Read. Pray. Wait. Measure.  That should become such a part of us that we don't even have to think about it.
:)

Proverbs 3:5-6
⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
 ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

God, It's me again

Many years ago Judy Blume wrote a book called Are You There God?  It's Me, Margaret which tells the story of a 6th grade girl seeking a way to consolidate her mother's Christian beliefs and her father's Jewish beliefs. She stops talking to God at one point because she is angry at Him for putting her in such a spot.  As things continue Judy begins to ask about things that only a 6th grade girl would want to know.  But just before the book ends, she asks. "Are you STILL there, God"?

Sometimes I feel like Margaret.  I just need reassurance that He is still there and He is still watching over me.  No, I don't have the dilemma that Margaret had over her parent's religious beliefs, but sometimes I wonder what God is up to.  What is His purpose in some of the things we are given to handle?  Why am I going through this thing or that thing and why do those I love go through those things too?  So while I know He is still there, sometimes I just need a little reassurance.

I was wondering how He would give me His answer.  Then a friend told me to whatch the weather for storms,  I walked outside and watched the limbs of the trees being whipped into different directions.  The flag on the flagpole stood out so straight and stiff that it looked like it had been heavily starched.  The sky was a multitude of shades--blue, black, gray.  I watched the dust fly across the street.  And then I had my answer.  Yes, God is still there.  He is still creator of all things.  He does still hold the world in His hands. 

So, I changed my question to a statement.  " God, it's me, Myra.  Thanks for reminding me of your awesomeness in such a spectacular way.  Thanks for ALWAYS being there.  Just--Thanks." 

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  I Thessalonians 5:18