Were they easy to make or difficult? Were there things you had to do today that you didn t have a choice about?

Transcription

1 Valued virtues How many decisions have you made so far today? We Make decisions and They Make Us Were they big or small ones? Were they easy to make or difficult?? Hmm... choosing this pen was easy, but sometimes I don t know what to write with it. Were there things you had to do today that you didn t have a choice about? B EP-EEP-BEEP-BE Hurry up, Moira. or You ll be late for school! Science again... I wish they had more music classes... Decisions are part of your everyday life.

2 It is easy enough to choose what to have for breakfast... Potato farl and eggs! what to wear... My school uniform. What else? how to style your hair... Easy. I just pat Me bobcut. or which flavor of ice cream to buy, chocolate, please. I ll take vanilla...but inevitably you will be faced with decisions that can be difficult to make. Some decisions can be challenging to make, and that is usually because of what those decisions could lead you to do, or how they could change your life. Frank W. Boreham1 once said: Ye re showing remarkable talent, Moira. Have ye ever considered professional training? We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us. If decisions have a way of affecting our life, then we might as well start out with making good decisions. To be sure, Ma am. But I don t know if... But how?

3 A good decision is one that is ultimately good for you. Now, that was easy! Or maybe not?! Sometimes it is hard to know what is good for you, and it is not possible to only rely on what feels good or what you imagine may be good for you. Hmm... It drives well, looks amazing n all, but... You can t beat the price. You may worry whether you can trust yourself to determine what is and what isn t beneficial for you. Fortunately, most of us have family, teachers, and friends who have our best interest at heart. Our loved ones want good things for us, and they want to help us make the right decisions. Their care for us is something we can rely on! Talking with those who can help you with your decisions can give you a broader view of your dilemma and help you to sort facts from emotions, which is important in making good decisions. Yer Da and I have been discussin this, so we have. And we know ye realise the immediate and long-term consequences of such a commitment. So whatever ye decide, ye have our support.

4 And it gets even better: God understands you. Why? So please show me. Because He made you. Lord, Ye ve given me this talent... He knows and loves you more than anyone, and as you draw close to God and listen, you can receive His guidance when making your decisions. God won t necessarily tell you what to do, but He does promise to guide you with godly wisdom in making your decision. This is an important part of finding out how to make a good decision. Grand! That s it. Thank you, Lord!

5 There is a lot to learn about decision-making, but for now let s begin with a few steps as the foundation: WHAT CAN you DO Include your parents (or a teacher, a mentor, etc.) in your decisions. Ask them for advice. They have your best interest at heart and will do their best to help you find a solution that is best for you. List pros and cons to the options of your decisions. Sometimes seeing the obvious good outweighing the negative can make the right choice easy enough. Look beyond the moment. Because it is easy for emotions to play a part in decision-making, try to think of how things might be or what you might need a little bit down the line. If you can step back a little, you can sometimes gain a broader perspective of what decision might be better for you in the long term. Your heavenly Father also knows you best. You are important to Jesus. You can talk to Him as you would a close friend at any time, and you can share your thoughts and fears with Him without shame. Ask Jesus for the things you need, show Him your gratitude for what you have, and listen to His guidance. What the Bible Says: Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. (Proverbs 8:14 KJV). If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. (James 1:5 KJV). Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV). Footnotes: 1 Frank W. Boreham S&S link: Character Building: Personal Responsibility: Choice and Decision-making-2b Authored by Caithleen. Illustrations by Jeremy. Design by Jeremy. Published by My Wonder Studio. Copyright 2017 by The Family International