Making Choices

“Choose this day whom you will serve.  As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:15

The American Gem Society website (www.americangemsociety.com) says that those folks born in October get to choose between two birthstones—tourmaline or opal.  Each gem unveils nearly limitless possibilities offering a variety of shades and color combinations.  Between tourmaline (whose color depends on trace elements in its chemical makeup) and opal (which diffracts light to show a play of multiple colors), October’s birthstones offer a full spectrum of gems to suit anyone’s personal tastes.  October appears to be the only month that offers two birthstones.  So which would you choose?

February is my birth month, and so my birthstone is Amethyst—which is okay and pretty.  But if I could choose my birthstone, I would opt for Peridot or Blue Topaz.  Alas, someone made the birthstone choice for me years ago, and I must live with their decision if I choose to stay true to the birthstone chart.  Of course, I can always ignore what someone else has chosen for me and make my own choices….and that is not always a good thing.  Have you ever considered how many choices you make in a single day?  And have you ever thought of how your choices might affect others?  In any given day most of us freely choose what we will wear, which route we will drive, what we will eat and drink, and what time we will go to bed.  But think of all the hundreds of other seemingly smaller choices we make in a day……whether to give someone a compliment, whether to say something nice or nasty, whether to hold a door open for someone, whether to read our Bible today, whether to think thoughts that are positive or pessimistic, whether to forgive….the list goes on and on.

The very first choice was made by a woman (wouldn’t you know??!!!) in the Garden of Eden, and strangely enough, involved food!!!  And mankind has been making choices ever since.  Even the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years had choices to make—and didn’t they make some dilly ones?  Very often choices can boil down to one thing:  whether to serve self or to serve others….so make your choice.

Lord, help me today to be aware of choices in my life….from tiny to titanic, help me to see each choice clearly and make decisions that reflect Your will for me.  Help me to learn from the unwise decisions of not only others but also myself.

(c) 2018 Leslie Kelley
source:  www.americangemsociety.com

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