halls of fame...or shame?
The life that you live is not just yours, it belongs to every person who crosses your path, be it friends, spouses, co-workers, children, relatives.....and when the apple cart of your life becomes upset, it also impacts many.
Take Lance Armstrong. Once thought a sports hero of the biking world for winning seven Tour de France titles, he is now a fallen star, after denying, then finally admitting, that he used enhancement drugs to achieve his high performance. This is an example of what greed, envy and lust for having more than enough has brought upon him. The sad part is, his children and their view of him and what was lost in his selfish quest for "the best." Were those medals REALLY worth what he did?
It is the same for the rest of us. What have YOU done that has stolen respect from yourself...your family...those who love you? It always "seems" good at the time. That little voice inside of us that says to "do it!" and only later, realizing that our house of cards has collapsed, maybe for good. It takes a lifetime to build a relationship and only seconds to explode it. It is true whether it be in the form of words...or actions. Celebrities who make light of marriage vows, politicians who use their power to obtain money or have affairs. Sports "stars" using performance enhancing drugs. It filters down to church leaders who sexually exploit children, even teachers, camp counselors, scouting leaders....anyone who has access to anyone else can wipe out the lives of so many others. Trust, once shattered, is a hard thing to restore.
Look at your life...your wants. Take a good look at the phrase, "if no one finds out, if I don't get caught, no one will get hurt." But sooner or later, the truth will find its way out, you will get caught, others will get hurt. So why take that chance? Why is it glorified on television when Hollywood "celebrities" admit their affairs? Does anyone wonder of the pain left behind?
Beginning today, ask yourself if the plans that you have will harm or help another? Who will be affected by your decision? If it impacts even one other person negatively...is it really worth doing it at all?
"Every life touches so many other lives...for good or for bad."
What gets me is when parents divorce, then one parent turns the kids against the other-even adult kids. The innocent party tries to restore that trust, but it's lost...maybe for good. Now what? I think its terrible that not only are the kids missing out but maybe there are grandkids involved who aren't spending what could be quality time with the other grandparent. To me, this is selfishness at its highest!! Because it happened to me. One would think my adult kids could think for themselves, but they believe HER....and her lies about me.
ReplyDelete"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for well-being, and not for calamity, in order to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.
ReplyDeleteTo Franklin, pray for guidance that your "prodigal kids" return to you at some point. Yeah they should be able to make up their own minds, but sometimes they get so caught up in playing good cop-bad cop to please their mom, they can't see what has really gone down. Too bad its the grandkids who have to suffer by not seeing their grampa!!
It would seem they are called the seven deadly sins for just that reason!!! They destroy, not inspire. Humility is a great thing...."live your life so that the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral" is a good motto to have. A humble person doesn't seek attention, they just go about their lives doing good for others.
ReplyDeleteSo...what is the difference between "judging" someone when they do wrong...and accepting that, yup they did wrong and now we have to forgive? I mean, Lance Armstrong...people who have affairs, alcoholics and drug addicts.. they all have the same thing in common: they hurt others by their actions, yet they do it anyway!! What gives? How do I know when to stay and offer support and when to walk away?
ReplyDeleteGood points you made. Remember Jesus and the woman who committed adultery who was about to be stoned. Jesus knew she had sinned, yet was not willing to condemn her because, as He said, "who here is without sin, let him cast the first stone!" To forgive or to offer support, as in cases of addiction, does NOT mean that you approve! What support does is say, "I am here for you but you need to do the footwork yourself. I can support you but will never enable you!" In the case of what happened to Lance Armstrong, he did wrong, he confessed it, if it is a sincere confession, the best thing the public can do is to let it go and not hold him up to constant scrutiny! This is the difference between this case and of ones in which people still continue to do wrong, to hurt others, to want to enact revenge. It is what is inside the heart that concerns God...it is the sincerity of wanting to humble to well by others standards of what they want and expect from us. I hope this answers your inquiry.
Deletewe set so much store by celebrities and when they err, we act surprised. Kinda dumb if you ask me!
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