Choices

 I was just reading Luke 15 where Jesus gives the parable of the lost son or prodigal son as it is usually called. Half way through the parable I had a minor revelation. Everything in life comes down to choices. Everything that makes you who you are, the legacy you build, and where you will spend eternity is the culmination of all the choices you have ever made in your entire life. From simple things such as eating that slice of cake to major things like choosing a wife; each choice is another step down a certain path. In regards to this parable the lost son made two very distinct and life altering choices. The first was to ask for his inheritance early and squander it on a life of "luxury." This life of "luxury" was very short lived and resulted in the son eating with the pigs. The second choice was just as important as the first but had a different result. He decided to return to his father's house and beg for forgiveness. Even though he knew the potential repercussions of his actions he MADE the choice any way. As you may or may not know the result was a welcome party like non other. This idea of the severe gravity of the choices we make every second can be extremely stressful to think about. There may always be fear in the back of your mind that you made the wrong decision. Making wrong decisions is inevitable in this life but it is what you learn and how you choose to live after that is what is important. I can understand when people, especially in movies, saw the reason they killed some one for example was because they had no choice. You ALWAYS have a choice it is whether or not you are willing to live with the consequences of that choice is what makes you who you are. People also often think that once they make one bad decision life is over or they have permanently ruined something in their lives. Some choices do have permanent consequences but there is always tomorrow; another day to make the right choices. So use the divine gift of choice everyday because it is one of your greatest strengths.