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Our Choices Shape the Relationships Around Us

by Elizabeth Marks  
1/08/2007 / Christian Living

Have you ever watched the movie called A Walk To Remember? I recently saw it on cable. Theres a line in the movie I just love. The young man was talking to his mother about a girl he has become attached to. He said She makes me want to be a better man. Wow! What a statement. The way the young girl lived her life before the young man caused him to want to be a better person.

Isnt that what God wants from everyone of His children? By our lives lived on purpose with intention we can cause those around us to want to be better persons too!

Lets look at some things the young girl did in the movie to see if we can draw any conclusions as to how we should live.

She was kind, always calm and pure. She didnt let the trials of life affect or bother her. She always saw good in other people. She had faith in the young man and believed he would go great things. She was humble. She considered the young man to be her angel sent by God to help her. She was also dying from cancer, but was not bitter towards God because of it.

Now lets look at what 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV says about love:
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Do you see the similarities between scripture and the young womans life?

When we face adversities in life, such as cancer, others are watching how you handle it. In the movie, the young woman was a noble role model who didnt blame or curse God because of the disease. Instead she lived out her life to please to God, she lived a life of love. But I challenge you, it is not just during adversity when others are watching. Its also during the mundane every day tasks of life and how you respond to them that others are watching.

Take for example the scene where the family pet has just made a mess on the carpet and hubby, walking barefooted, has just stepped in it.

If you were hubby how would you respond? Before you answer remember, hubby is the head of the household according to Gods design. He sets the example for the rest of the family. (No pressure!)

Choice #1: Get angry. Raise your voice to yell at your spouse, who bought the pooch you didnt want in the first place. Angrily blame your spouse and child for not cleaning up the mess and with loads of bitterness clean up the stinky mess yourself.

Side Effects: A chain reactions is started by your snapping at your spouse. You spouse snaps back. Shes now hurt because of your tone of voice and giving you the silent treatment as she stews on her own pot of bitterness. Your child is mad because when he attempts to clean up the mess, you scold him for not doing it right. Accusation, blame, bitterness are flying around and now distance between all parties is going.

Choice #2: Calmly get something to wash your foot off. Then clean the mess on the floor or ask for help.

Side Effects: Your spouse comes over to assist with the mess. You child takes the pooch out for a walk.

Which of these choices promotes peace, conveys love and sets a positive example for the rest of the family? Which choice leaves lasting bitterness, remorse and wounds the very people you love? How would you want your children to react in a similar situation? How would you respond?

Even in the ordinary things people are watching how we respond. Are we going to respond from our old wounded sinful flesh? Or are we going to choose the high way and walk by the Spirit? What do you suppose Jesus would have done?

Next time youre faced with a stinky situation think about the choices in your response. What kind of memory do you want to pass along?

Copyright Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions, has a heart for encouraging believers with God's Word. Please visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com for more devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more!

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