Consider a time when you regretted a decision you had made but, later, were thankful you had done it.

About ten years ago, while pursuing my Masters degree, I was required to do an internship by starting my training in chaplaincy. Simultaneously, in the midst of the training period, my parents had arranged months beforehand a family cruise at this exact timeframe. Facing the decision of how to handle this conflict, I finally approached my parents, explained the situation, and turned down the opportunity of the cruise. Even though I mourned this choice at first, looking back now, not only did I make the right decision but I made a life-changing one—one that totally directed my career path. Even though this particular choice proved to be a good one in my life for the long run, there are some decisions I would make differently now. This is true for all of us.  

Good choice or poor choice—no matter what it is, it is more important to consider how we let the choices we make impact the rest of our lives. The American psychologist, Wayne Dyner, once said, “Our lives are a sum total of the choices we have made.” However, the sum of our lives does not have to reflect our poor choices; it can reflect positively through our responses and attitude toward these choices.

Lord, guide us in finding Your blessings in all the choices we make. In Your name I pray, Amen.