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The Incredible Gift of Choice
By Don Meyer
CHICAGO, IL (January 1, 2006) - The New Year for many is a time to reflect on
the past and ponder the future, often establishing any number of
resolutions reflecting new choices to govern the way in which we intend
to live our lives going forward.
The ability to choose is one of the great gifts that God has given to
each one of us and is something that is uniquely ours to keep in any
circumstance, good or bad. I believe it is one of those characteristics
associated with being created in the image of God – a powerful gift that
can serve us well, depending on how we choose to use it.
A great inspiration in my life is my mother, who will be 87 in January,
a woman who by many medical estimates should not have survived the
ravages of a serious medical condition she has endured for nearly half a
century. She no longer has her vision and even the simple task of eating
is no simple task for her.
You wouldn't have a clue about what she has endured over these decades
if you were to have a conversation with her, however. You see, she has
chosen to respond in a way that focuses on lifting the spirits of
others, who she says struggle with far more serious issues in life than
she does.
That deliberate way of responding to life events has influenced me over
the years, reflecting the simple truth that no matter what confronts us,
we always retain the ability to choose how we will respond. I believe
that is divinely intentional.
So, no matter what awaits us this year, take heart in the knowledge that
God has promised to walk with us through each and every circumstance.
Remember, too, that when all else fails, we always retain the God-given
ability to choose how we will respond.
May God grant each one a blessed New Year.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
