Poor Choices

So we all know about poor choices. We've all made them - and I'm sure we will make them again. It is when you are at that place in your life when you are contemplating doing something that you KNOW is stupid - wrong - immoral - illegal - and yet you do it anyway. You go into the situation knowing full well that what you are doing will probably get you into trouble, yet do it anyway.

I won't beat a dead horse here because I'm sure you all know what I mean. What is it that causes us to go ahead with these poor choices?

Who knows.... human nature? Recently, there have been people in my life who have made mistakes. Some of them major mistakes; and some just stupid but not life threatening. I have seen some have trouble getting over the fact that they have made these poor choices. They are feeling stupid and embarassed. Reminds me of Grandma's Duck:

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. And he was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just on an impulse, he took aim with the slingshot, and let fly. The small rock hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.

In a panic, he hid the dead duck behind the wood pile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to her bother, "Remember the duck?"

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, but Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."

Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help you." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"

So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

I wonder if it's that way in our lives. We make poor (stupid) choices and cannot get over them to move ahead. I have some tips that may help:

--Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others
--Do what you know to be right without reservation
--Be thankful that the mistakes you made have taught you the importance of making the right decision

Well, folks, that's all for now. I have to go 'clean up' from a few mistakes of my own.

xoxo