Have you considered the domino effect of your decisions?
The Domino Effect Of Our Decisions
Some decisions are pre-mediated with a pre-determined outcome in mind. While other decisions tend to backfire on us. They leave us in a place of perplexity where we say to ourselves, “I didn’t see that playing out this way in my mind.”
Often times I’ve found myself making “good” decisions only later feeling frustrated for committing myself to something. Better yet, even in my good intentions, I ended up hurting someone.
As I learned to live within God’s priorities, my Pastor taught me something very profound. She encouraged me to make better decisions by learning to say: “no to the good, for the sake of the better.”
Too many times I went to her frustrated about situations I found myself in, all because I made a poor decision.
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Although I had good intentions, my decision had a domino effect that I had not anticipated.
My Decision For The Better
A few years ago, I had an opportunity to apply this life lesson. She asked me to teach a Mother’s Day message to our church. It just so happened to be the same day our son, a senior in high school, at the time, would be swimming at a regional’s swim meet.
Because we had already embraced a lifestyle of living within the God’s priorities, when we found out he made Regionals, we didn’t even give it a second thought. We knew we had to be present for his swim meet.
The Domino Effect Of My Decision
Was delivering a Mother’s Day message a good thing? Yes. However, watching our son swim at regionals was the better choice.
Why? Because, I can always teach a Mother’s Day message, but our son, will only swim in a regional swim meet, as a senior in high school once.
That meant, I had to say no to the good; which was delivering a Mother’s Day message; and say yes for the better. In this case, it was to attend the regional swim meet.
If I had chosen to preach the message as opposed to attending his swim meet, I would have given our son the impression that ministry is more important than my family. And that is not God’s order of priorities (God, Spouse, Family, Ministry, Work).
The decision I made, not only was the right decision; the domino effect showed our son, that he was more important to us than the ministry.
As a result, our son has and continues to support our ministry efforts as opposed to resenting them, because he has seen us prioritize him.
Mary And Martha
The story about Mary and Martha in the Bible, is a similar illustration in regards to saying no to the good for the sake of the better.
Luke 10:38-42 In the New Living Translation says; “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was more concerned about tending to housekeeping for her guests. While Mary chose to put the housekeeping down and focused her attention on Jesus; who was in her presence.
In other words, housework will always be there. And when Jesus is in your living room; sitting at his feet would be a much better use of your time.
In The End
Although I wear many hats, I refrain from saying that I’m busy. Rather, I live a productive life as: a wife, a mother, a co-pastor, and co-blogger. With that much productivity there’s always someone or something else demanding for my attention.
However, by choosing to live within in the priorities of God as a lifestyle; it has become habit to make decisions by asking myself: what do I need to say no to, for the sake of the better?
Have you been faced with making a difficult decision? If so, I encourage you to consider the domino effect of your decisions. Then make decisions by saying no to the good for the sake of the better.
This post is being shared at Salt & Light Link Up.
~ Timberley Gray
