This is a blog post I published over a year ago on a different site, but thought it would be a good start to our new blog here at Live and Love Ministries.
“Everything in your life is a reflection of a CHOICE you have made. If you want a different result, make a different CHOICE.”
I ran across this quote recently and my belief is that if you are looking for something different in your life, regardless of your present circumstances or situation, you are simply one choice away from changing it.
Choices Change the Future
Now, you may be thinking, it’s not that simple Jason. You don’t understand my situation. It will take more than a single choice.
I will say that the choice has to be accompanied with action (because if there’s no action have you really made a choice?), but I am convinced that a single choice can not only change your current situation, but has the power to impact generations to come.
For a powerful illustration of this and a great read, pick up a copy of 7 Men by Eric Metaxas.
That is a pretty powerful statement and you may be wondering why I am so confident that this is true. Well, allow me to share a story.
One Man’s Choice Changed My Life
My grandfather (my dad’s father), who we called Pepaw, was one of the greatest men I have ever known. But it wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned how special this man really was.
Now let me say, he wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but isn’t that the beauty? You do not have to be perfect in order to be great and impact the lives other. But that is a post for another day.
My grandfather grew up poor and without a father. His real dad left his family when he was very young. His mom (Mimi Mac to us) remarried a man who was a great provider, but a very hard, stern man. It is safe to say that growing up, Pepaw never had a man in his life that told him he loved him or showed him any kind of true affection.
There is a lot more difficulty to my grandfather’s story and I will most likely share some of those details in the future. But for now the important thing to know is that my grandfather, despite his lack of a loving father figure, made quite possibly the most important decision of his life.
Leaving a Legacy
My grandfather made the statement one time that he made this choice as a young man:
If I ever have children, especially boys, I will tell them I love them and show them I love them regularly.
The fact that my grandparents ended up having 3 boys is in my opinion no coincidence. And my grandfather followed through on his decision as a young man and my dad was a recipient of his love and affection his entire life.
But you see, although my grandfather most likely never thought about the reach of his choice, it changed my life. You see, I have a father who has told me and shown me my whole life how much he loves me. With that being my example, my children have benefited from the same.
Your Choices Matter
Because of Pepaw’s choice my children are different and their children will benefit and their children’s children and so on for generations to come (not to mention my brother’s three children). What’s amazing is that my children never met my grandfather, only through stories.
You see, there is so much more at stake than simply accomplishing some goal. Those things are important, but there are so many others who need you to make the choices that bring change because YOUR CHOICES MATTER.
So, what change do you desire in your life? What change do you desire for your children? Your wife? Your community? Your world?
Now, what choice, or choices, will be the catalyst for that change?