On a few occasions during my high school years, my Dad would offer up his opinion of a friend or a girlfriend. When Dad suggested that I should be careful with that friend, or that girl, he was right – Every Single Time! How is it that Dad’s know these things?
I recall a girl that I was dating stopped by the house one evening a little later than dad thought was “acceptable.” (I would have thought the same after I became a Dad). After she left, he came into my room and offered these words; “Dude (he often called me Dude) you can date her if you want to, but you’re gonna pay a price that’s greater than you can afford.” Dad was suggesting that I might have chosen this girl for all the wrong reasons. Now, 40 years later, he is still right!
Sometimes it’s true and sometimes it is perception. But we don’t have to live forever as “that person.” We, through the grace of the Divine, can rise above every bad choice and every poor decision. I listened to Dad on that particular relationship, but I sure wish I would have listened a bit more on much more.
Here are a few folks that had a harsh learning curve in learning from their poor choices:
“Hi. My name is Abraham. I am a coward and a liar. I would tell a lie to put my wife’s life at risk, to save my own skin.”
“Hi. We are Isaac and Rebecca and we’re dysfunctional parents.”
“Hi. My name is Moses and I’m a hot-head and a murderer.”
“Hi. My name is Naomi and I am bitter.”
“Hi. My name is Samson and I struggle with lust.”
“Hi. My name is David. I am an adulterer and a murderer.”
“Hi. My name is Thomas. I struggle with doubts.”
“Hi. My name is Peter and I let my best friend down when he needed me most.”
“Hi. My name is Paul. I murdered Christians and I am really difficult to work with.”
These folks had their warts and yet each became a hero of the Christian faith. I don’t think that they were rewarded for their mistakes, nor do I believe their mistakes were unrelated to the good that eventually occurred in their lives.
Being aware of those poor choices and sinful actions helped them get back on the track that the Divine had set for them. As a matter of fact, because of the grace extended to them by the Divine, they not only overcame the mess that they made, they rose way above them!
My Dad was offering a warning that I might want to be careful, and he was right. That causes me to wonder how many of my friends or girlfriends Dads offered up the same warning about me?
Aren’t you grateful that the love of God doesn’t keep us where we were, but always pulls us closer to Him? Yeah, me too!
Seek Him Today, He’s Not Hard to Find,
AChuck
