Circumstances and Decisions

We all have circumstances crop up from time to time that are completely and totally unexpected and unnerving. It never seems to fail that when one thing tears up at the house, it seems to take several other things down with it. Let's take for example that you are late for an appointment. Every traffic light that you come to will change to red, every slow driver in town will get in front of you and turn at the next driveway, every possible hindrance will arise.

I watched a football game with an acquaintance once. His team lost on a last second field goal, and he lost it. He went into another room, came out with a rifle and shot his television. Yeah, I know! Then, he commenced to throwing the television, the stereo, the clock/radio, the walkman, every electronic device in the house out in the yard. Every electronic device, I hear, I left after the television shooting.

Today's word is a quote from Stephen Covey, which says, "I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions."

Our circumstances do not define us; they change from moment to moment, from one situation to another. It is our decisions during these circumstances that define us and make us. In our example of things tearing up and taking other things down with it, when this happens, we can either try to repair and replace that which has failed and be grateful for its usefulness. Or, we sulk and decide we are angry and let one bad thing lead to another; like a leaky roof leading to ceiling staining, leading to rot and decay. The leaking roof is a circumstance; not fixing it and preventing further damage is a decision.

Same with the guy shooting up the television. His team lost. The television had nothing to do with it, nor did the stereo, the clock/radio, etc. His circumstance was that his team lost on a last second field goal. His decision was to be STUPID. Don't blame decisions on circumstances. You are not a product of your circumstances. You are a product of the decisions you make in those circumstances. I pray I make good decisions.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T