“STOP MAKING EXCUSES for things YOU Control;
it wasn't a mistake after the first time, it was a DECISION!” Reading this
on a social media site immediately caught my attention. A mistake versus a
decision. My first reaction was … ‘Ouch! Any bad actions that I take are not permissible
after the first time.’ But then I thought … ‘Wait a minute, why is the first
time permissible?’
Maybe it’s not. There’s
such a fine line between the two. A mistake is “an action or judgment that is
misguided or wrong.”
A mistake is
printing your term paper on yellow paper instead of white paper. A mistake is
grabbing the directions to the interview but leaving your resume on the
printer. A mistake is heading West on the Interstate when you’re supposed to be
headed East. A mistake could even be thinking an adult is a child or a male is
a female. A mistake might even be proceeding through the yellow light instead of throwing your brakes on.
A mistake is NOT
the emotional or physical affair you engaged in. A mistake is NOT gambling away
your money. A mistake is NOT the black eye you gave or received from your
significant other. A mistake is NOT the bruises on your child’s arm. A mistake
certainly is NOT the ‘light’ and ANY touch on the child’s rear end or other
private part. A mistake is not telling a child to touch or taste ANY of your
body parts. A mistake is NOT “borrowing” money out of your company’s petty
cash. A mistake is NOT putting your child’s social security number on the
credit application. A mistake is NOT entering your bank account information to
receive a benefit intended for your employer. A mistake is NOT pulling the
trigger on an already cocked gun.
Whether it’s one
time or multiple times, some actions and judgments are simply decisions that we
make. We use the word “mistake” as an excuse to minimize the impact of our
decision. Excuses are tools of weak and incompetent people who fail to take
personal responsibility for their actions. When you do it, Own it! You didn’t
make a mistake. You made a choice to go against your moral compass. You made a
choice to break your marital covenant. You made a choice to allow your flesh to
control your mind. You made a choice to take a sip, a puff, or even a ride. You
made a choice to allow anger to consume you. You made a choice to stay bound up
in your past hurts. You made a choice of what account information to provide.
You made the choice to act.
A decision is “a
conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.” A decision is not based
on the amount of time taken to come to a conclusion. A quick decision. A
well-thought out decision. A decision based on every available fact. A decision
made in anger. A decision influenced by someone else. Regardless of how we get,
a decision is still a decision. The action taken as a result of your decision
became your choice.
Using the word “mistake”
does not minimize the consequence of your action. The word “mistake” does not
justify your action. The word “mistake” does not eliminate the impact that your
action has on others around you. We cannot hide behind words. The true reality
is that our actions have consequences. We must face them, accept them, and move
beyond them.
The good news (YES, there is good news) is that “In
him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7 reminds us that through God’s
grace, our sins are forgiven. The mistakes that we make are sins within our
life. In spite of them and in spite of our choices, we have a God who still
loves us. We have a God who still covers us. God’s grace is sufficient and
covers us in spite of ourselves.
Let’s learn together how to walk in the grace we are given. Let’s make proper decisions and minimize our mistakes. Let’s not set a standard of differentiating between one time mistakes and on-going decisions. No more misguided and wrong actions and judgments. Let’s allow our actions and judgments to be God centered, therefore guided and correct. The blood has been shed. Let’s move forward in our redemption.
Let’s learn together how to walk in the grace we are given. Let’s make proper decisions and minimize our mistakes. Let’s not set a standard of differentiating between one time mistakes and on-going decisions. No more misguided and wrong actions and judgments. Let’s allow our actions and judgments to be God centered, therefore guided and correct. The blood has been shed. Let’s move forward in our redemption.
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