"Those who choose gratitude over bitterness become a great source of hope and inspiration to others who also have a choice to make." - Henri Nouwen</p>

In every life, at one time or another, come situations in which we have no control and in which we wish things were different. These circumstances can include anything from a loved one dying to the abandonment of a spouse or a friend; from a natural disaster to a freak accident; from a physical illness to the loss of a job; from a sexual assault to a character assassination by someone we loved and trusted. These circumstances and many others are often completely out of our control, and we experience a wide degree of emotions from disappointment to devastation.

What then do we do? It is at this point we stand at a crossroads, because we have a choice to make. And it is at this point where we have the opportunity to affect the situation for good. We can choose to embrace and be grateful for God's grace in that dark hour, or we can choose to be angry, resentful, and bitter over what we or a loved one had to experience.

That one choice has the power to change our lives for good or for evil, and to affect the lives of those who know of our situation and observe our response.

When we choose gratefulness over bitterness, and adopt a positive outlook over a negative one, we become people of powerful influence. Others look at our lives and find inspiration to make the same positive choice, and they find hope that in their own disappointing and devastating circumstances something good can come. Most of all, if we freely give thanks to God for His amazing sustaining grace, He receives the glory. And in so doing we inadvertently point others to Him.

It may be that you have stood at such a crossroads in the past and chosen bitterness, and have experienced the destruction in your life that choice has made. A wonderful aspect of God's grace and mercy, which are new every morning, is that He is continually willing to bring us to that crossroads again where we can make a different choice. He is a God of redemption and second chances, and He continually gives us the opportunity to correct the wrong choices we have made in the past.

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Which will it be for you?

© 2010 Fern Horst

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