No, I’m not talking about the movie. I’m talking about what happens when decisions are made or actions taken without a second thought to the consequences whether intended or unintended. This series is, ‘Spiritually Becoming’ as I talk about lessons I’m learning and the process I’m going through to become who God has created me to be.
I remember someone told me something along the lines that when I didn’t follow through or do as God told me to, that it affects people I don’t know. That got me to thinking. Yep, I said it just like that.
What happened when I made horrible decisions in the past?
Who did that affect?
Well, makes you look at present/future decisions differently. And to be more careful, considerate and prayerful when moving forward.
On the flip side, I really think about who are these people acting up that’s affecting me in some way?
Like what are they supposed to be doing with their life that had a ripple effect on my life?
It took me a long time to not get fed up, frustrated, upset when thinking about that statement and how things in my life have played out the past couple of decades. Not to say that my life is all bad. It’s not. But I’ve been in this vicious cycle that I so desperately want to get out of. It seems like as soon as I get it together in my life someone in my life has a bad thing happen to them or I have to step in financially and then my world gets turned upside down once again.
Now before you say anything, I do know I need to take responsibility for the fact that I came in and rescued people when I should have let them just be responsible for their own decisions. I learned the hard and extremely expensive way that I should not be out there saving people from themselves. Even if I don’t want them to feel pain, sadness or deal with chaos.
I’m not their savior. Jesus is. And if they need saving leave it up to Him.
From me stepping in, I know that I created collateral damage with stepping into situations that were never meant for me to step into. Saving others who I probably should not have meant that I was not helping those God wanted me to.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the effects of the ripple effect from butting into situations that weren’t mine and the collateral damage I created. I can’t beat myself up nor can I go back and change things. So I asked God to forgive me and I am more aware moving forward.
Essentially, it’s important to take into account each and every decision we make. We have no idea what collateral damage we create when we don’t act immediately and do as God has told us to do.
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