Feb 24th 2014

Choose Life!

I’m gonna date myself here – but I’m part of the “you’ve come a long way baby” generation.  “You can have it all,” they said.  That was supposed to represent the new power our generation had – to be able to do it all, be it all, and have it all.  (Still not sure what the “it” is, but I digress.)

It was years before I realized that “having it all” was a lie  . . .  a lie that our society tells us in order to disguise the true power that lies in choice.  Stop for a moment and think about it: you just can’t have everything.  It’s not possible.  You have to choose.  You can’t eat dessert all day long and be a size 6 – not gonna happen . . .  Not unless you’re eating dessert on the treadmill.  You can’t smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, and expect clear lungs.  Not gonna happen.  You can’t catch up on your beauty rest all week, every week and expect that promotion.  Not gonna happen.  You can’t be mean and evil all day every day and expect peace, joy, and sweetness to be part of your life.  Not gonna happen.

God just didn’t set things up that way.  God says: I’m giving you a choice: life or death, blessing or curses.  It’s your choice.  You decide.  Choose your path.  Now, your choices have consequences, but you already know that.

And God encourages us to think carefully  . . .  He says: even though I’m giving you the right and the responsibility of making your own choices, I really want you to choose life.  I want you to make decisions that will lead to abundance, and joy, and peace, and health, and prosperity, and love.

Consider the choices you will face today.  What to eat, where to go, who to talk with, where to spend your time.  Then choose life: make decisions that will give you the abundant life God wants you to have.  Eat healthfully.  Be sweet.  Encourage someone.  Call to say “I love you.”  Send some flowers.  Be on time for work.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Let go of bitterness.  Laugh often.  Read more.  Be a friend.  Choose life!