The ripple effect.... ..... .....

Why is it that we are so quick to realize how our positive actions have a great ripple effect on those around us but we don't stop to consider how our mistakes affect others? If we go on a mission trip or help translate in a medical clinic, we're quick to see what we did to help others, but if we say something hurtful or act completely immature and hurt those around us by our actions, we sometimes don't even want to admit that we're wrong and that what we did affected other people...

I'm sure part of it is that we don't want to take responsibility for the full range of effects that our mistakes have on those around us and on our environments. Sometimes, it's hard enough to take responsibility and even say, "I messed up. I'm sorry." But taking it one step further and then having to admit that we may have made the next week harder because of words we shouldn't have said or whatever the case may be...that's real stuff.

But I think it's in doing that, and in saying, "okay, wow, I did this. That was wrong. I'm sorry. I'm responsible" that we must realize that every action good or bad has consequences. We affect others, even people we don't know, and that's a large responsibility, but it's one God has given us because He knows that we can handle it - otherwise, we wouldn't have it.

Talk about empowering. The God of the Universe knows that my actions will affect others and He sees the ripple far beyond what we can ever know on this earth, but it is also He who gives such responsibility therefore making us each capable of properly handling it.

Taking it even further, we have to look down the road. How will our actions now affect our families? How will our actions now affect our significant others? Our parents? Our siblings? OUR CHILDREN?? Randall always says if you can see it, you can do it. So, I think that's a good strategy. Imagine someone always watching you and learning from you and then think about what you're doing. Do you want them to learn this behavior and think it's acceptable?

What we have to know and recognize is that God ALWAYS watches us. Actions that we don't even complete but that just appear as brief thoughts in our head will be judged. We will have to give an account. If you don't remember what you did that hurt your best friend's feelings in high school, it doesn't matter - God does and we are responsible for EVERY action, EVERY behavior, EVERY thought. So, think about that. Imagine someone always watching you and learning from you and then think about you're doing...Guess what? Someone already is, and that person is the ultimate Judge.

Not to try to scare anyone - of course, that's why God sent his son Jesus to save us from the death that we deserve for our sins. God is merciful and just in that he sent Jesus as the ultimate sacrific for our sins. We are pardoned but responsible.

I'm not trying to get preachy here. I just want to encourage and provide a tactic that I hope will help me and others. That tactic? Remember that God created each and every being on this earth. We are interconnected because He created us. We affect each other, for better or for worse. If a child was watching every action and every word you spoke, would you be pleased with what they were learning from you?