The Choice

Chris with Rach

It's Chris' 13th birthday today - 1st August.

Thirteen years ago, I chose this date to start my leave from work to wait for his arrival. According to schedule, I still had three weeks ahead. But, Chris "chose" to arrive early!

So, as parents, we can't really choose the date of the birth of our children. But I firmly believe what Wayne Hastings said in his book, "If you take my hand, my son" , that today, I have a choice -

As parents, we have a choice. We can choose to lead our sons, or we can let Hollywood, athletic heroes or politicians pave the way. We can choose to invest the time necessary to help our sons become men after God's heart, or we can leave them to the influences of the world. In the end, our sons will make their own choices. Yet one fact is clear: Your choice today will make a definite impact on your son tomorrow. Today, you have a choice.

Yes, my son, you too have a choice. Max Lucado writes of some choices he likes to make -

I CHOOSE LOVE…
No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness.
I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…
the tool of the lazy thinker.
I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings,
created by God.
I will refuse to see any problem as
anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE…
I will live forgiven.
I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place,
I’ll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long,
I will thank God for a momentto pray.
Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments,
I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS…
I will be kind to the poor,
for they are alone.
I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
And kind tothe unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS…
I will go without a dollar
before I take a dishonest one.
I will be overlooked
before I will boast. I
will confess before I will accuse.
I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS…
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust.
My associateswill not question my word.
My wife will not question my love.
And my children will never fear
that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS…
Nothing is won by force.
I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.

May that be your choices too!

Happy Birthday, Chris!