I hope that everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their families. I went home to see my family, and I really enjoyed getting to see everyone. But as is expected with a family gathering, there was a little bit of drama. We have our own special dysfunction, just like your family has yours, I’m sure.
I’m writing this as I’m driving home. Don’t worry I’m not typing it… I’m actually doing voice to text… But I am reflecting on the week, and I believe that there can always be more kindness and grace extended to one another.
When life puts you in a situation that tests your patience, what do you choose?
Everything that we do or say can be categorized into something that is either constructive or destructive. I think that it’s important before we speak or act to determine if what we say or do is going to be something constructive or destructive.
Are we building up the people around us? Are we fortifying our minds and hearts with good things?
Just as we need to nourish our bodies with good food, are we nourshing our souls with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control?
Every moment we are able to make conscious choices. It’s like we’re standing on a line, and we can choose to step to the right of that line or to the left of that line. On one side of the line, we can grow our patience, encourage one another, and demonstrate love and reconciliation. On the other side of the line, we can lose our patience, destroy one another with words and actions, and foster discord and disagreement.
I am just like you, and I need practice every day. Luckily, there is usually an opportunity to practice this every day. Just because you fail to step on the right side of the line in one moment, doesn’t mean you have to fail the next time.
No one except for you is responsible for choosing which side of the line you end up on. No one is pushing you to one side of the line or the other. You make the choice which direction you go, and if you choose to the negative or choose to be positive.
I understand that people often test boundaries and that emotions can run high. I am not immune to great emotion and being affected by the people around me. But we cannot blame others for what is ultimately our decision.
We make the choice alone.
So when you come to the crossroads and you have to choose, will you choose to be constructive or destructive?
Let other people make their choice. And you make yours.
I have have one more thing to say before I wrap up this post: Let us offer grace to one another and forgiveness when our comrades choose the destructive side of the line. We all step over the wrong side of the line at times, so let’s forgive each other when our friends choose the side of destruction and hurt our feelings. Because we will need them to forgive us in our moments of failure as well.
