When our daughters were growing up, a re-occurring lecture to them was about choices. I choose the word lecture because first of all, it was a teaching moment. Secondly, the wisdom that I was imparting to them was not debatable, it was a part of living in the Gunther household.
We might have been discussing someone else's decision or one of their own decisions, but when it came down to it I would consistently say, "We ALL have choices to make. If you make a good choice you will reap the rewards of that choice. If you make a bad choice you will pay the consequence of that choice."
The Bible bears this out and you can find examples of people who made each kind of choice. One of my favorite stories in the Bible comes from 1 Samuel 25 where we find the story of Nabal, Abigail and David. Each had a choice to make. Each choice had rewards or consequences.
Nabal made a foolish choice and it ultimately cost him his life. Abigail made a wise choice and it saved her life and the life of everyone that lived in her household. Abigail's choice gave David the opportunity to change his mind and not have something on his conscience that didn't belong here. Abigail's choice gave her the opportunity to become a wife of one of the greatest men that have ever lived.
It's my hope that when our daughters (even though they are all grown up) are facing decisions, in the back of their minds they hear my voice saying "What kind of choice are you going to make? Will it reap rewards or will you have consequences to pay?". It's my hope that they not only continue to make good choices but that they repeat this message not only to their own children, but to the people that surround their lives.
There are so many things going on in our world today. Choices are being made that will have global effects. People are making decisions today that will affect not only their lives but the lives of those who live around them and care for them. Will those choices bear consequences or reap rewards?
Let us make wise choices.
